CHILI is bounded on the north by Peru, on the south by the land of Magellan, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the east by Tucoman Cujo and Patagonia. The natural limits of Chili on the land side are the Andes or Cordillera and the desert of Atacama. It is to be re marked, however, that not only the western vallies of the Andes, but also the eastern, which have been occupied from time immemorial by Chilian colonies, make an in tegral part of the country. In length it has been com puted at 1260 geographical miles. Its greatest breadth, which is near the Archipelago of Chiloe, is about 300 miles. Between the 24th and 32d degrees of latitude, in a direct line from the coast to the mountains, it mea sures about 210, and its narrowest part, from the 32d to the 37th, not more than 120 miles. It contains a surface of 378,000 square miles.
Among the various whimsical derivations of the name of Chili, that suggested by the inhabitants is, perhaps, the least absurd. They derive it from the note or cry of one of their birds, which in its utterance somewhat resembles the word Chili ; and " it is net improbable," says Molina, " that the first tribes who settled there, considered this note as a good omen, and named the country accordingly." Chili presents a plain, gradually rising in elevation as it recedes from the coast and approaches the Cordillera. From this sloping conformation it is fertilized and beau tified by innumerable rivers, which having their source in the mountains, cross the country from east to west, and discharge themselves into the Pacific Ocean. The na tural divisions of Chili are three in number ; Chili Pro per, the country of the Chilian Andes, and the Islands. Chili Proper, comprehended between the Andes and the sea, and measuring in breadth at least 120 miles, has been divided into two equal portions, viz. the Maritime and Midland. Ttiree chains of mountains, parallel to the Andes, intersect the :Maritime country. The Midland portion is almost an uniform plain, interspersed only with a few solitary hills. That portion of the ?ndes which belongs to Chili, is about 120 miles in breadth. It con tains a vast number of contiguous and very lofty moun tains, and in its various scenery exhibits often the most striking features or the grand, the picturesque, and the beautiful. The Islands that belong to Chili are the Co quembanes, Totoral, and Pajaro, which remain desert ; Carama, which is a mere rock and scarcely worth notice ; the two islands of Juan Fernandez, Isola di Terra (the shore islands), and Masafuera (the more distant), both of which are beautiful and inviting, but the first only (Isola di Terra), which is the largest, is inhabited by a few Spaniards; Quirequina and Talca, or Santa Maria, near Conception ; Mocha, on the coast of Araucania, which is more than 60 miles in circumference, handsome, and fertile, but deserted by the Spaniards ; the Archipe lago of Chiloe, which, with that of the Chones dependent upon it, comprehends eighty-two islands, at present oc cupied by Spaniards and Indians. Chiloe, the largest of these, is in length about 150 miles, and gives its name to the Archipelago. All the above islands, except those of Juan Fernandez, are situated near the coast.
Chili may be divided politically into two parts ; the conquered portion in possession of the Spaniards, and the Indian part, which still maintains its independence. Spanish Chili extends from the 24th to the 37th degree of south latitude, and is divided into thirteen provinces, which we here subjoin, beginning from the north, with a short statement of their extent, productions, and ca pitals. Copiapo, stretching from the Andes to the sea,
is in length 100 leagues by 70 in breadth. Its northern part is chiefly inhabited by hunters of the vicugna. This province contains mines of lead and silver, and abounds in gold, lapis lazuli, and fossile salt. Copiapo, the capi tal, is situated on a river of the same name, in IC south latitude, and in west longitude 71° 5'15". Copi apo, extending also from the Andes to the sea, is 70 leagues from north to south, and 45 front east to west. The soil is fertile, producing abundance of grapes, olives, and other fruit, both native and European. It is rich in gold, copper, and iron. Its capital, Coquimbo, or La Serena, stands in south latitude 54! 40"; west longi tude 71° 19' 15" Quillota, lying on the sea-coast, is 25 leagues in length, and 21 in breadth. This province is one of the most populous in Chili, and is particularly abun dant in gold. The capital, named Quillota, or San Martin, is in south latitude 3`2^ 42', and west longi tude 71° 4concagua, is an inland province, compre hending part of the Andes ; 75 leagues in length, and the same in breadth. It is fertile in grain and fruit ; produces excellent copper, and contains the rich silver mines of Uspalata. The capital, Aconcagua, or San Filipe, is situated in lat. 32° Is', and long. 69° 55'. Me on the sea-coast, measures 11 leagues from north to south, and 23 from east to west. It is a beautiful and fertile province, abounding in wine and grain. Melipil la, or San Joseph de Lagrano, the capital, is finely situ ated on the river Maypo, in lat. 33° 36', long. 70° 42'. Santiago, near the Andes, is a small province, measuring only 11 leagues from north to south, and 20 from east to west; it is, however, extremely fertile, and abounds in grain, wine, and excellent fruits, especially peaches. Capital, St Jago, in lat. 33° 16', long. 69° 48'. Ran cagua, extending from the Andes to the sea, is forty leagues from east to west, and thirteen from north to south. It is fruitful in grain, and has a rich mine of gold in the vicinity of Alque. The capital, Santa Croce de Triana, or Rancagua, lies in lat. 34° 18', long. 70° 16'. Calchagua, reaching from the Andes to the sea, is from cast to west 43 leagues, from north to south 15. This is a rich province, abounding in grain, wine, fruits, and gold. San Fernando, the capital, is in lat. 34n 36', long. 70° 34'. 1llaule, extending from the Andes to the sea, is forty-four miles from north to south, and from east to west forty-eight. It abounds in grain, wine, fruits, cattle, fish, salt, and gold. Several noble families, whose finances had been much reduced, having retired to this province, it has, from that circumstance, received the appellation of the Bankrupt Colony. It contains many villages of native Chilese, and one in particular, Laro, inhabited by Proniaucians, and governed by a native chief or Ulmen. Capital Talca, or St Augustin, in south lat. 35° 18', west long. 70° 48'. Itata, on the coast, 11 leagues from north to south, and 23 from east to west. It affords the best wine in Chili, known by the name of Conception wine, from its being produced on lands belonging to inhabitants of that city. The capital, Coulemu, or Nombre de Jesus, is situated on the Rio Jesus, in south lat. west long. 72° 38'. Chinon, an inland province, near the Andes, 12 leagues from north to south, and 25 from cast to west. Its plains be ing considerably elevated, afford excellent pasture for sheep, whose wool is reckoned of a superiour quality.