1877 -] 
Present Condition of Chile . 
3S5 
of the 19th of April, and took to the hills for refuge. At 
Romeral a similar exodus occurred, and only 500 inhabitants 
were found instead of at least 1200, known to belong to the 
place. The prevailing idea appeared to be that a forced 
levee en masse was intended, or that the population was being 
counted with a view to the imposition of a poll-tax. As an 
illustration, on the other hand, of the little intelligence 
sometimes shown in collecting the necessary data, it is said 
that in one district the enumerators positively refused to 
note down any children under nine years of age. The 
number of foreigners in the country appears small when the 
large foreign trade is considered. The census puts them at 
26,528, chiefly resident at Valparaiso, Santiago, and the 
mining capital of Copiapo. In reality, however, the foreign 
element in Chile is much larger than it would seem to be, 
for all children of foreigners born in the country are ac- 
counted Chileans. These and the offspring of mixed mar- 
riages together produce a considerable admixture of foreign 
blood not without its uses in so young a community. It is 
worthy of note, too, that these half-breeds, as a rule, show 
a marked attachment for the country of their birth. The 
census roughly estimated the independent Indian population 
at 44,000, 20,000 of whom are accredited to the debateable 
regions of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, and 24,000 to 
Araucania proper, but the last-mentioned figures are believed 
to be much below the mark. 
Education . — The progress of late years in this direction 
has been not inconsiderable. In 1874 the Report of the 
Minister of Public Instruction showed that there were 806 
public elementary schools, in which 62,244 scholars of both 
sexes were inscribed, and 478 private schools with 23,198 
scholars. Altogether, therefore, there were throughout the 
Republic 1284 schools ; in which 85,442 children were as- 
sumed to be receiving some degree of education ; the pro- 
portion thus obtained being 1 scholar out of 4*94 children 
of educational age, or not far short of double what it 
was twenty years before. The cause of general education 
has received considerable attention at the hands of the 
Chilean Government in the last twenty-five years, but, 
from what Mr. Rumbold states, it would seem that it has 
been less warmly taken up by the more influential classes 
of the country. This, however, — it is only fair to add — 
finds some excuse in the stolid indifference of the peasantry, 
which is such as a severe compulsory system could pro- 
bably alone overcome. 
Post Office . — Closely allied to the development of education 
VOL. VII. (N.S.) 2 D 
