with animal life. Four fifths of the mammals and birds are elsewhere unknown. Among them are the jaguar, gigantic boas, blood-sucking bats, the llama, the vicuña, guañaco, the alpaca, the tapir and the condor.
Resources. South America is rich in mineral, forest and agricultural resources, yet none of these have been developed so as to give an adequate measure of their possibilities. Gold and silver are exported from nearly all of the republics. The mines of Peru and Bolivia are famous, and those of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Guiana are important. Large deposits of iron and diamonds are found in Brazil. (See Brazil.) The forests have an inexhaustible store of rubber and valuable woods. Brazil furnishes 65% of the world's coffee and more than half the world's rubber; the wheat of Argentina is a large item in the world's commerce.
Inhabitants. These belong to the white, red and black races, and include hybrid races. The white inhabitants consist in large part of Spanish and Portuguese Creoles, American descendants of European settlers, though the British, Dutch and French are present. Argentina and Brazil have hundreds of thousands of German, Italian and Polish colonists. The red men or Indians are the aborigines, and the ancestors of some of these originated native civilizations. The blacks are the descendants of slaves imported from Africa, but slavery has nominally ceased. Chinese and Hindu coolies are present in considerable numbers.
Political Divisions. South America comprises the republics of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, besides the colonies of British, French and Dutch Guiana and the Falkland Islands (British). The areas and populations are as follows:
| Area, sq. m. | Pop. | |
| Argentina | 1,139,979 | 6,989,023 |
| Bolivia | 708,195 | 2,267,935 |
| Brazil | 3,218,130 | 20,515,000 |
| Chile | 291,500 | 3,500,000 |
| Columbia | 438,436 | 5,072,604 |
| Ecuador | 116,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Paraguay | 171,815 | 800,000 |
| Peru | 679,600 | 4,500,000 |
| Uruguay | 72,210 | 1,042,686 |
| Venezuela | 393,976 | 2,713,703 |
| British Guiana | 90,277 | 296,041 |
| French Guiana | 30,500 | 27,000 |
| Dutch Guiana | 46,258 | 85,094 |
| Falkland Islands | 5,300 | 2,272 |
| 7,402,176 | 49,311,358 |
History. The history of the continent falls into two eras—that before and that since Columbus discovered South America (1498). The Peruvian or Inca Indians had advanced far in culture and empire-building, but Pizarro (1531) conquered and destroyed their civilization. The history during the sixteenth century is a record of exploration and invasion. As early as 1550 the contour of the continent was determined, the country penetrated to the core and European power established. Spanish activity included far the greater part of the habitable area, Portuguese colonization confining itself to Brazil. Portugal and Spain for three centuries failed to treat their possessions sagaciously or generously, exploiting the colonists as badly as the natives and the resources. Between 1605 and 1767 the Jesuits civilized the Indians of Paraguay. During 1776–1811 colonial loyalty to Spain was everywhere weakened. In 1810–25 came the heroic age. Bolivar, San Martin and Sucré freed Buenos Aires, Chile, New Granada (now Colombia), Quito (now Ecuador), Paraguay and Peru, while Brazil became independent peacefully. Monroe, in 1823, enunciated the doctrine that Europe should in no way attempt to control the destiny of South America. During 1825–75 the Spanish Americans suffered greatly, the Brazilians slightly, from civil and foreign wars, but about 1877 an era of progress opened. Our Centennial and Columbian Expositions fostered aspirations for peace and prosperity. Secretary Blaine, President Cleveland and Secretary Root strengthened political friendship between Latin America and the United States—the first (1881 and 1889) by Pan-American congresses, the second (1896) by forcing Britain to arbitrate the Guiana disagreement with Venezuela, the third (1907) by visiting the southern republics. They participated honorably in the Hague peace-conferences of 1890 and 1907. Argentina, Brazil and Chile have progressed materially.
The Panama canal, which Saavedra suggested in 1520, will immeasurably benefit South American as well as North American countries.[1]
America, the popular name of the tune to which the words "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" are commonly sung. The national song of England, "God Save the King," is adapted to the same music. We also find it in use in Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and other countries as a national song. Its origin has been ascribed to Lully, to the Scotch, to Purcell, to IJr. Arne, to Henry Carey and to Dr. John Bull. The words ,"My Country, 'Tis of Thee," were written by Rev. Dr. Samuel F. Smith, and first used at a children's celebration in Park Street Church, in Boston, July 4, 1832. (See GOD SAVE THE KING.)
America Cup, The, is a trophy offered for the first time at the London international exhibition of 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron; and now held subject to annual challenges by the New YorK Yacht Club. Its name is aue to the fact that the cup was won in 1851 by the U.-S.-built yacht, America. The yacht America was the first vessel to be built upon anything like modern
- ↑ "Our southern neighbors in this Hemisphere," says Director General Barrett of the Pan American Union, "will enjoy, because of the opening of the Panama canal, the greatest material, commercial, and economic development which any group of nations has ever experienced in the history of the world."
