a country of South America, comprehending all that country extending from Chili and Paraguay to the utmost extremity of South America; that is, from 35° almost to 54° of latitude; being surrounded by the countries just mentioned, the South and North Seas, and the Straits of Magellan, which separate it from the island called Terra del Fuego, and extend about 116 leagues in length from sea to sea, but only from half a league to three or four in breadth.

This country had the name of Terra Magellanica, from Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese officer in the service of the Catholic king, who is reported to have sailed through the straits that also bear his name, from the North to the South Sea, in the year 1510.

The lofty mountains of the Andes, which are covered with snow a great part of the year, traversing the country from north to south, the air is said to be much colder than in the north under the same parallels of latitude. Towards the north, it is said to be covered with wood, and stored with an inexhaustible fund of large timber; whereas, to the southward, not so much as a single tree fit for any mechanical purpose is to be seen: yet there is good pasture, and incredible numbers of wild horned cattle and horses, which were first brought hither by the Spaniards, and have increased amazingly. Fresh water, we are told by some writers, is very scarce; but if that were really the case, it is difficult to conceive how the present inhabitants, and such multitudes of cattle, could subsist. The east coast is mostly low land, with few or no good harbours: one of the best is Port St Julian.

Patagonia is inhabited by a variety of Indian tribes; as the Patagons, from which the country takes its name; the Pampas, the Coifares, &c. of whom we know very little. Only it appears, from the accounts of former voyagers, lately confirmed by commodore Byron and his crew, and the testimonies of other navigators, that some of them are of a gigantic stature, and clothed with skins; but it would seem that there are others who go almost quite naked, notwithstanding the inclemency of the climate. Some of them also, that live about the Straits, if we may credit the navigators who have passed that way into the South Sea, are perfect savages: but those with whom commodore Byron and his people conversed, are represented as of a more gentle humane disposition; only, like other savages, they live on fish and game, and what the earth produces spontaneously.

The Spaniards once built a fort upon the Straits, and left a garrison in it, to prevent any other European nation passing that way into the South Sea: but most of the men perished by famine, whence the place obtained the name of Port Famine; and no people have attempted to plant colonies here ever since.

About the middle of the Strait is a promontory called Cape Frojard, which is the most southerly on the continent of South America.

On the coasts of Patagonia lie a great number of islands, or clusters of islands. On the west coast are the islands Madre de Dios, Santa Trinidad, Santa Cruz, the isles of the Chunians and Huillans, the Sarmientos, and many others; to the number of 80 in all, as some say. Of those on the south coast, the most considerable are Terra del Fuego, and Staten Land. See these articles.