Education receives much attention

but is not compulsory. The name of Chile is supposed to be derived from an ancient Peruvian word signifying “snow.” The N. portion, as far as the river Maule, formed yer of the dominions of the Incas of eru, and the S. was held by the valjant Araucanians. The first European to land in Chile was the Portuguese discoverer Magellan, at Chiloe, in 1520.. After the conquest of Peru by Pizarro, an expedition was made to Chile from that comet overland, under the leadership of Diego de Almagro, in 1585. This expedition penetrated as far as the Rio Clano, but returned unsucce ful. Another was sent under command of Pedro Valdivia in 1540, which succeeded in annexing the territory as far as the river Maipu.