CHILE

From Agepedia

CHILE ; a countiy of South America, bounded N. by Buenos Ayres, E. by Buenos Ayres and Patagonia, from which it is separated by the Andes, S. by Patagonia, and W. by the Pacific ocean ; Ion. 89° to 74° W.; lat. 24° to 45° S.; about 1400 miles long, and from 100 to 200 broad; square miles about 200,000. Population stated, in 1806, at 720,000; by MalteBrun, in 1820, and a Spanish journal, at 900,000. Another statement, said to be founded on a census, makes it 1,200,000, exclusive of independent Indians. It is divided into two intendencies, St. Jago and Conception, which are subdivided into 13 provinces, viz. Copiapo, Coquimbo, Quillota, Aconcagua, Melippa, St. Jago, Rancagua, Colchagua, Maule, Itata, Chilian, Puchacay and Huilquilemu. The islands are Coquimbanes, Mugillan, Tortoral, Pajaro, Masapiero, Juan Fernandes, Mocha, and the archipelago of Chiloe. The chief towns are Santiago or St. Jago (the capital), Conception, Valparaiso, Valdivia, Chilian, Coquimbo, St. Fernando and Petorca. The rivers are numerous, but small, and have generally rapid currents. Some of the principal ones are the Maule, Biobio, Cauten, Token, Valdivia, Chaivin, Bueno and Sinfondo. Chile presents a plain, gradually rising in elevation as it recedes from the coast and approaches the Andes. From this sloping conformation, it is fertilized and beautified by numerous rivers flowing from the Andes ; and of these, 53 communicate directly with the Pacific ocean. The coun12* try, intercepted between the foot of the Andes and the Pacific ocean, is divided into two equal parts, the maritime and midland. The maritime part is intercepted by three ridges of mountains, running parallel with the Andes, between which are numerous wellwatered valleys. The midland country is generally level, of great fertility, and enjoying a delightful climate. The great chain of the Andes traverses the country from north to south, and presents a number of summits, the height of which has been estimated at upwards of 20,000 feet. Among the Chilean Andes there are said to be 14 volcanoes in a state of constant eruption, and a still greater number that discharge smoke at intervals Chile abounds with vegetable, animal and mineral productions. Maize, rye, barley, pulse, wine, oil, sugar, cotton, and fruits of various kinds, are cultivated. It has luxuriant pastures, which feed numerous herds of cattle. It is rich in mines of gold, silver, copper, tin and iron. All the metals are found ; also a variety of earths and precious stones. It is free from dangerous or venomous animals, which are so much dreaded in hot countries, and has but one species of small serpent, and that perfectly harmless. The climate is remarkably salubrious, and the weather generally serene. In the northern provinces, it rarely rains, in some parts never, but dews are abundant; in the central part, rain often continues 3 or 4 days in succession, followed by 15 or 20 days of fair weather; in the southern provinces, rains are much more abundant, and often continue 9 or 10 days without cessation. The rainy season commences in April, and continues through August. Snow falls abundantly on the Andes, but is never seen on the coast. Earthquakes are common. Chile was formerly a colony of Spain, but, in 1810, the people took the government into their own hands, and, in 1818, made a declaration of absolute independence, which has been hitherto uninterrupted, and recently acknowledged by Portugal. The supreme authority was administered by an elective magistrate, called the supreme director, until May, 1827, when a president was substituted, in imitation of the government of the U. States. The Roman Catholic is the established religion of Chile, and the church is very rich. There are said to be about 10,000 monks and nuns in this country, and the religious institutions with which they are connected hold nearly one third of the landed property of the country. The army, in 1818, was stated at 8400 regular troops ; the militia at 28,960 men, and the revenue at $2,177,967. The part of Chile lying south of the river Biobio, in lat. 36° 44' S., is inhabited chiefly by Indians. The Araucanians, a celebrated and warlike tribe, inhabit the region lying between the rivers Biobio and Valdivia. They are enthusiastically attached to liberty, and have never been subdued.Of the history of Chile, previous to the middle of the 15th century, nothing more is known than what may be derived from the vague traditions of the natives. In 1535, the Spaniards first visited it. They wrere, at first, received by the Chileans with the utmost respect; but a cruel massacre of some of their chief men, by order of Almagro, the Spanish general, produced opposite feelings; and Almagro, advancing into the country of the Promancians, was defeated with loss, when the Spaniards, disgusted with their general, and with the state of affairs, returned to Peru, where they arrived in 1538. Two years afterwards, Pizarro despatched Pedro de Valdivia, with 200 Spaniards and a numerous body of Peruvians, to Chile, for the purpose of settling such districts as he should conquer. Valdivia succeeded in overcoming the resistance of the natives, and founded the city of Santiago, Feb. 24, 1541. Hostilities with the natives ensued, till Valdivia, having settled his power in the northern provinces of Chile, turned his arms against the southern portion of the country. In 1550, he founded the city of Conception, and was soon afterwards attacked by the Araucanians, with whom he fought several battles, and was finally defeated and taken prisoner, Dec. 3,1553. Many battles were subsequently fought between the Spaniards and this tribe of Indians, which, though they generally terminated in favor of the former, were destructive to them, and impeded the progress of the settlements. In 1598, a general insurrection of the Araucanians took place ; and, with the assistance of their allies, they put to death every Spaniard whom they found outside of the forts. Villanca, Valdivia, Imperial, and several other towns, were attacked and taken, and Conception and Chillar were burnt. To add to the misfortunes of the Spaniards, the Dutch landed on the Chiloe islands, plundered Chiloe, and put the Spanish garrison to the sword. Hostilities were continued for many years without any extraordinary result. Each party seemed obstinate in its determination, and each committed cruelties and outrages, with which the history of South America is unhappily too familiar. At length, in 1641, preliminaries of peace were finally settled between the marquis of Baydes, then governor of Chile, and the Araucanians. By the terms of the treaty, the two nations agreed to suspend hostilities, and the Araucanians engaged to prevent any foreign power from landing on their territories. Two years afterwards, the Dutch made an attempt to settle a colony at Valdivia; but, hearing that an army of Spaniards and Araucanians were marching against them, they evacuated Chile. The peace between the Spaniards and Araucanians lasted until 1655, when hostilities again broke out with their former fury, and continued for 10 years with various success. At the end of this period, a formal treaty was made. This peace was more lasting than the former, and, until the beginning of the 18th century, the history of Chile presents little deserving of record. Though tranquil for so long a time, the spirit of the Araucanians was not broken, nor was their aversion to the Spaniards abated. In 1722, a general conspiracy was formed by the nations from the borders of Peru to the river Biobio. At a fixed moment, when the watchfires were to blaze on the mountains, the Indians were to rise against the whites, and release the country from their yoke. The design, however, miscarried : only the Araucanians took up arms; and, after a short contest, peace was again concluded. In 1742, don Josef Manto, then governor, collected the colonists into towns, divided the country into provinces, and founded several new cities. In 1770, an attempt of don Antonio Gonzago to compel the Araucanians to adopt habits of industry, and to associate in towns, was the cause of a new war. At length, peace was restored, one condition of which was that the Araucanians should keep a resident minister at Santiagoa stipulation which proves their power and importance. Chile appears to have enjoyed tranquillity during the remainder of the 18th century, and, being relieved from the hostility of the Araucanians, agriculture and commerce, which had been greatly neglected, soon revived. The occupation of Spain by the French troops, in 1809, caused a revolutionary movement in Chile, as well as in other parts of Spanish America. July 10,1810, the president Carrasco was deposed by the native inhabitants, and a junta of government was formed, under the pretext of holding the country for Ferdinand, but with the secret intention of ultimately proclaiming inde pendence. At this period, the most active and influential persons were the three Carreras, Rodriguez and O'Higgins, the government being, in reality, exercised by the Carreras. In 1814, Chile was invaded by a royalist army from Peru, under the command of general Osorio; and the defeat of the patriots at Rancagua, Oct. 1, 1814, compelled the leading individuals to cross the Andes, and seek refuge in Buenos Ayres, leaving their country in possession of the Spaniards. In 1817, the patriots obtained succors from Buenos Ayres, commanded by general San Martin, and reentered Chile at the head of a powerful body of troops, which defeated the Spaniards at Chacabuco, Feb. 12, 1817, and again at Maypu, April 5, 1817, and thus permanently secured the independence of the country. By the intrigues of San Martin, the three Carreras and their friend Rodriguez, the best men in Chile, were shamefully murdered, and his favorite, don Bernardo O'Higgins, was placed at the head of the government, with the title of supreme director. Meanwhile, San Martin, with the liberating army, and aided by a Chilean fleet under lord Cochrane, invaded Peru in return, and gave it a temporary independence. O'Higgins continued to administer the government until Jan. 23,1823, when he was compelled to resign the supreme authority, owing chiefly to the dissatisfaction of the people with his financial measures. He was succeeded by general Ramon Freire, the latter being appointed supreme director. In January, 1826, the archipelago of Chiloe, which had remained to that time in the hands of the Spaniards, surrendered to the government of Chile. But disturbances have existed among the Araucanians, on the southern frontier, down to the present time, occasioning more or less inconvenience to the Chileans. In other respects, Chile has been wholly unmolested by foreign enemies, unless an attempt of the exile O'Higgins upon Chiloe, in 1826, can be considered such. But the unsettled state of the government, and the maladministration of its affairs, have impeded the prosperity of the country.In July, 1826, the director Freire resigned his office, and admiral Manuel Blanco was appointed in his place. In May, 1827, the form of the government was changed, and, Blanco having resigned, Freire was again called to the head of affairs as president, but refused to be qualified ; and the administration of the government devolved upon don Francisco A. Pinto, the vicepresident. Three attempts have been made to effect a solid organization of the government by means of a permanent constitution. One constituent congress assembled in 1823, another in 1824, and a third in 1826; but neither of them accomplished the object of their meeting, and the country is agitated still between the advocates of a central and of a federal constitution. (Stevenson's South v2m.,vol.iii.; Amer.An.Reg.,\o\, i. and ii.) CHILLICOXHE ; a posttown and capital of Ross county, Ohio, on the west bank of the Scioto, 45 miles in a right line, and 70 according to the windings, from its mouth; 42 miles S. Columbus ; 93 E. by N. Cincinnati; Ion. 82° 57' W.; lat. 39° W N.; population, 2426. It is pleasantly situated on the borders of an elevated, extensive and fertile plain, regularly laid out, the streets crossing each other at right angles, and is a flourishing town. It contains a courthouse, a jail, a markethouse,3 houses of public worship, a ropewalk,4 cotton manufactories, and a steam mill. In the vicinity of the town there are many valuable mills.