VALA'IS, a canton of Switzerland, consists mainly of a great longitudinal valley traversed by the Rhone, and screened by two lofty and massive chains of Alps, one of which, on the south side, divides it from Italy, and the other from the canton of Bern on the north. Both chains are connected at the eastern end of the Valais with the central group of the St.-Gothard by means of the Gallenstock, the Furka, and the Mntthorn. The Plena has its sources in a glacier which lies on the west side of the Gallenstock and the Furka, whence it flows westward through the whole length of the Valais, receiving numerous affluents on both banks of the mountains. The offsets form sixteen transverse valleys, some of them more than 20 miles in length, which slope down into the great valley of the Rhone. Near St.-Maurice the valley of the Rhone becomes contracted between two lofty masses—the Dent-de-Morcles on the north, and the Dent-du Midi, a projection of the southern chain—which leave between them at the bridge of St.-Maurice merely space enough for the river. This is the geographical termination of the Valais, but the canton continues to stretch over a narrow and partly mountainous tract along the left bank of the Rhone for about 16 miles farther down, to the entrance of the river into the Lake of Geneva : the opposite or right bank below the bridge of St.-Manrice belongs to the Canton•de-Vaud.
The area of the Valais Is 1653 square miles, of which more than one-half consists of high alps and glaciers, and the remainder of lower offseta and intermediate valleys. The breadth of level ground In the valley of the phone varies from a quarter of a mile to three miles. The heat in the summer is very great in the valley, especially in the neighbourhood of Sion and Sider. (Sierra in French), where the fig, mulberry, almond, and pomegranate thrive in the open air. [Rlitaea; LEMAX, Lake.] The vine and Indian corn are cultivated up to the height of 1000 feet above the level of the lake, barley to 2500, and potatoes to 3000 feet Walnut, chestnut, cherry, apple, and pear trees are abundant In several localities excellent wine, both white and red, is made. Cider is made in other districts. In common years the crop of corn is sufficient for the consumption. The forests are extensive; great quantities of timber are cut down and sent by the Rhone into France. The horned cattle, sheep, and goats, are very numerous; horses and mules are few In number. Mines of Iron, copper, lead, silver, cobalt, and zinc have been found.
The population of the Valais amounted in March 1850 to 81,559, 81,096 of whom were Catholics and 463 Protestants. In the Lower Valais cretinism is a common infirmity. A French patois is spoken in the western part of the canton ; German In the upper or eastern part The canton returns four members to the National Council of Switzerland.
The canton la divided into 13 communities or little republics, called Idixains ; ' every dixain has its council, the members of which are appointed by the respective communes, and which regulates all local affairs. Each dixain sends four deputies to the diet, or legis
lature of the whole canton, which meets every year at Sion. The diet appoints the members of the council of state, or cantonal execu tive. The bishop of Sion Is president of the Diet of the Valais, and has four votes.
The Valais was, in Roman times, occupied by the Mantuatee, Veragri, and Seduni. On the decline of the empire it fell successively under the Burgundian' and the Franks. The Upper Valais maintained its independence during the middle ages, and conquered the Lower Valais in 1475, which it held by right of conquest till 1795, when the whole territory became a canton of the Helvetic republic. Previously the Valais had been only the ally of the Swiss Confederation. In 1802 Bonaparte formed it into a separate republic, which he united to tha French empire in 1810. In this interval the Simplon road, through the Valais and over the Alpe to Italy, was made, and the newly annexed territory was in consequence called the department of the Simplon. In 1814 the country was restored to its independence, and made a canton of the Swiss Confederation. A constitution was formed, in which the political distinction between the Upper and the Lower Valais rim obliterated, but the aristocratic principle was maintained in the elections till 1830, since which date more democratic forms have been introduced.
The principal towns of the Valais are—Sion (Silica), an old-looking town, surrounded with walls and towers and a ditch, in a picturesque situation at the foot of two insulated rocks, ou the right bank of the Rhone. It has a large cathedral, several other churches, a fine old town-house, a college, a enticing old tower said to have been raised by Charlemagne, two ruinous old castles on the summit of the two hills, an hospital, an arsenal, and 3516 inhabitants. Sion is the ancient Sediment, a Roman military station ; it is called Ciritas Sedunorunt iu an inscription in honour of Augustus, which is preserved in the cathe dral. Martigny (Jfartinach), near the junction of the Dranse with the Rhone, is the chief town of the Lower Valais. It is built on the site of the ancient Octoduruns, a Roman military station, has several good buildings, ions, and shops, and above 3000 inhabitants in the commune. The high-road of the Simplon, and that leading over the St-Bernard into Italy, pass through Martigny. St.-Maurice, on the left bank of the Rhone, 10 miles below Martigny, a small town of 1327 inhabitants, is remarkable for its ancient ;Augustinian abbey, now suppressed. There is (or was before the recent suppression of the monasteries in Switzerland) a college annexed to the abbey, in which the classical languages, mathematics, physics, history, and geography were taught There are, or were, colleges also at Sion and Bring. The celebrated convent and hospice of St-Bernard was in the territory of the Valais. (BERNAED, Sr.]