CHIAPAS, a Pacific coast State of southern Mexico on the Guatemalan frontier, bounded by the States of Tabasco on the north and Vera Cruz and Oaxaca on the west. Pop. (1895) 318, 456,371; and (1930) 520,221, largely Indians; area, 27,222 sq.m. largely forested. The Sierra Madre crosses the southern part of the State parallel with the coast, separating the low, humid, forested districts on the frontier of Tabasco from the hot, drier, coastal plain on the Pacific. The mountain region includes a plateau of great fertility and tem perate climate, which is one of the best parts of Mexico and con tains the larger part of the population of the State; but isolation and lack of transportation facilities have retarded its develop ment. The extension of the Pan-American railway across the State, from San Geronimo, on the Tehuantepec National line, to the Guatemalan frontier, is calculated to improve the industrial and social conditions of the people. The principal industries are agriculture, which is very backward, stock-raising, timber-cutting, fruit-farming and salt-making. Coffee-planting is a new industry on the Pacific slope of the Sierra Madre at elevations of 2,000 to 4,000ft., and has met with considerable success. Rubber planta tions have also been laid out, principally by American companies. The exports include mahogany, dye-woods, cattle, hides, coffee, rubber, fruit and salt. The mineral resources include gold, silver, copper and petroleum, but no mines were in operation in 1926. The capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez (pop. 9,395 in 1900; 22,120 in 192o), is on the plateau, 3i-m. from the Rio Sabinas, and 138m. N.E. of the Pacific port of Tonala. The former capital, San Cristobal (pop. about 5,000 in 1895 and 13,562 in 1921), about 4om. E. of Tuxtla, is an interesting old town and the seat of the bishopric of Chiapas, founded in 1525 and made famous through its associations with Las Casas. Tapachula (pop. in and 12,180 in 1921), the capital of the department of Soconusco, 18m. from the Guatemalan frontier, is a rising commercial town of the new coffee district. It is 24m. inland from the small port of San Benito, is 5 59f t. above sea-level, and has a healthful cli mate. Other prominent towns are Comitan, or Comitlan, on the Rio Grijalva, about 4om. S.E. of San Cristobal, Pichucalco, Tene japa, Cintalape, La Concordia, San Carlos and Ococingo.