II. Central America, occupying the greater part of the isthmus of Darien, comprises the states of Guatemala, San Salvador, Honduras. Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, which since 1803 have formed a loose political union, under the name of States of Central America. They contain about 175,000 sq. m., with a population estimated in 1865 at 2,065,-000, of whom 1,500,000 are Indians, 1,000,000 of mixed blood, 130,000 whites, and 35,000 blacks. Central America lies wholly within the tropics; but many parts of it are sufficiently elevated to give a temperate climate.

III. South America extends from Cape Gallinas, lat. 12° 30' N., to Cape Horn, lat. 55° 59' S., its extreme length being 4,550 m. The distinguishing physical feature is the chain of the Andes or Cordilleras, which borders the whole W. coast, at a distance of from 50 to 100 m. from the shore, gradually sinking at the southern extremity to the level of the ocean, a few summits appearing as rocky islands. From lat. 22° S. northward the range widens, spreading into a series of ridges generally parallel, the westernmost ridge, almost continuous, being the Andes proper, or Cordillera of the coast. The main line follows, or rather constitutes the isthmus of Panama, an offshoot striking northeasterly to the Caribbean sea. This last is divided into several parallel ridges, through the intervening valleys of which the Atrato and the Magdalena flow northward into the Caribbean. The general chain is nowhere broken through, and thus forms a complete separation between the waters which flow into the Pacific and those which fall into the Atlantic. On the Pacific side there is no considerable river. From the eastern base of the Andes several ranges of highlands divide the whole country into a number of shallow basins.

Topographically South America is divided into seven distinct regions: 1. The shore of the Pacific, 50 to 100 m. in breadth, the extremities of which are fertile, the centre being a sandy desert. 2. The elevated table lands lying between the folds of the main Andes and the other Cordilleras; the chief of these are those of Quito and Bogota. 3. The basin of the Orinoco, a series of llanos, or level plains thinly wooded, but covered during the wet season with late herbage, which withers in the dry season, when the heat is in-tense. 4. The great basin of the Amazon, covering about 2,000,000 sq. m., for the most part densely wooded and thinly peopled. 5. The basin of the Rio de la Plata, a series of plains, known as pampas, the river banks clothed with forests, and the interior covered with luxuriant grass, which supports immense herds of cattle, millions of which are annually slaughtered for their hides. The cattle here probably excel in number those of all the rest of the globe. 6. The mountainous region of E. and S. Brazil, extending from the Atlantic to the interior, where it almost imperceptibly joins with the two former regions. 7. Patagonia, occupying the whole breadth of the continent from about lat. 40° S. to Cape Horn. This region is almost wholly unexplored.

The Argentine Confederation claims dominion over a great part of it; but practically it is inhabited only by savages, with scarcely a trace of even a tribal government. About three fourths of South America lie geographically within the tropics; but the climate is greatly modified by the elevation. - With the exception of a small tract in the N. E. angle, comprising French, Dutch, and British Guiana, no part of South America is under the dominion of any foreign power. The present political divisions are eleven in number. We enumerate them in geographical order, commencing at the north: 1. Venezuela, in the north, bordering on the Atlantic and Caribbean sea; area, 425,000 sq. m.; pop. about 1,250,000. The only census ever taken was in 1847, when the population was 1,267,000, since which it has probably decreased somewhat owing to frequent revolutions. The bulk of the population are of mixed Indian and negro blood, hardly one in a hundred being put down as pure whites. 2. The United States of Colombia, formerly known as New Granada, bounded N. by the Caribbean sea and Central America, E. by Venezuela, S. by Brazil and Ecuador, and W. by the Pacific. It comprises the southern part of the isthmus of Darien, the Panama railroad running through it.

Area, 500,000 sq. m.; pop. in 1804, 2,794,000, since which time partial enumerations indicate a slight increase. Most of the population is of mixed races. Those in whom European blood predominates over Indian are about 1,480,000; Indian over European, 440,000; Indian and negro, 440,000; pure Indian, 150,000; negro, 90,000. 3. The empire of Brazil, the only monarchy, stretching westward in its northern part from the Atlantic to Colombia, in its southern part to Bolivia. It includes the greater part of the basin of the Amazon. Area, 3,140,000 sq. m. The population is variously estimated at from 10,000,000 to 12,000,000. The best native authority gives it in 1807 at 11,780,000, of whom 9,880,000 were free, 1,400.000 slaves, and 500,000 uncivilized Indians. The proportion of people of mixed blood is small compared with other South American states. 4. Uruguay, bounded by Brazil, the Atlantic, and the Argentine Confederation; area, 75,000 sq. m.: pop. 300,000. 5. Paraguay, bounded by Bolivia, Brazil, and the Argentine Confederation, the only country with no seacoast; area, 70,000 sq. m.; pop. in 1857, 1,300,000, but since greatly reduced by war and famine. 0. Bolivia, extending from Brazil to the Pacific; area, 575,000 sq. m.; pop. 2,000,000. 7. The Argentine Confederation, extending from Bolivia and the Andes to the Atlantic; area, 600,000 sq. m.; pop. 1,800,000. 8. Patagonia, occupying the extreme southern end of the continent; area, 350,000 sq. m.

The population is insignificant, consisting wholly of savages, destitute of any organized government. All the foregoing states are E. of the Andes. The remaining ones are on the Pacific shore, the summits of the range, and its eastern slope. 9. Ecuador, upon and just S. of the equator; area, 275,000 sq. m.; pop. about 1,300,000, of whom half are reckoned as whites, though many are of mixed blood. Its cultivated parts comprise a narrow strip on the Pacific, the elevated valley of Quito, between the ridges of the Cordilleras, and the eastern slope of the latter. Within its limits are several of the loftiest peaks of the Andes. 10. Peru. S. of Ecuador, crossing the Andes, and extending down the eastern slope; area, 000,000 sq. m.; pop. 2,500,000, of whom 15 per cent, are whites and 57 per cent. Indians. 11. Chili, occupying the narrow Pacific coast S. of Bolivia and W. of the Argentine Confederation and northern Patagonia; area, within its established limits, about 150,000 sq. m.; pop. in 1808, 1,900,000.