CHILI. 173 
than in other parts. Schools and colleges have been established, and 
a desire to extend the benefits of education throughout the population 
is evinced. This has been of late one of the constant aims of 
government. 
The credit of forming this police is given to Portales. It con- 
sists of two distinct bodies, one mounted, the other on foot. The 
watchmen carry swords only. The former patrol the streets on 
horseback, while the latter take their particular walk round a square 
or two, for which they are responsible. A message may be sent 
through them to the farthest end of the city, and an answer returned, 
in fifteen minutes. They carry a loud and shrill whistle, the sounds 
of which are varied as occasion requires, and by it a concentration of 
force can be effected in a few moments. The notes of the whistle 
when all is well, are 
When they cry the hour they all sing the same tune, but the pitch 
is ranged in accordance with the scope of the voice. The manner of 
singing the hour is pleasing, thus : 
! P =r:= F 
Viva Chi - li, Viva Chi - li, las diez and - a y se - re - na. 
In the morning they add to it a prayer, as Ave Maria-purissima las 
cinco ij media. The music does not differ from the night-song, but 
has the few additional notes that are necessary. This police adds 
greatly to the comfort as well as to the safety of the inhabitants. To 
give an instance of its effects, apothecaries are chosen weekly to keep 
their shops open all night, and in case of sickness or requiring any 
aid, one has only to call for the vigilante, who takes the recipe and 
passes it to the next, and so on to the shop, where it is obtained, and 
returned as soon as possible, without any trouble whatever. They 
have their particular rounds, and each door is obliged to have a pad- 
lock. If any door is found without it, they put a lock on, for which 
the owner has to pay a fine of four dollars to the city to have it 
removed ; half is the reward of the vigilante. 
A complaint during our stay was made by one of the officers, of 
exactions made by a policeman. It was instantly taken notice of 
and punished. It is to be regretted that this police should still wear 
vol. i. 44 
