Venezuela

JATHKDRAl, S CWACAS. INTRODUCTORY NOTE THE author is desirous of expressing his apprecia tion of the continued courtesy and kindness rendered during his stay in Venezuela by the British Charg6 dAffaires, Mr. W. E. OReilly, by Mr. E. A. Wallis, and other British residents, as well as the warm reception accorded by the Venezuelan officials throughout the parts of the country he visited, Mr. F. A. Holiday, A. R. C. S., F. G. S., has made himself responsible for much of the information on the Llanos, and has assisted largely in the prepara tion of the tables in Appendix B. Mr. J. D. Berrington, of El Callao, also furnished details relating to the Guayana g9ldfields and their surroundings. The author is greatly indebted to Mr. N. G. Burch, F. R. G, S., for reading the manuscript and for many valuable suggestions and criticisms. He would also thank Mr, G. T Wayman, of Caracas, for many useful documents and items of interest regarding recent developments. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTORY NOTE . . . . - 9 CHAPTER I PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE UNITED STATES OF VENEZUELA, . . . . .35 Situation Area Population Main physical divisions Tho Quay ana Highlands Mountains, rivers, and forests The Llanos SdvasMcsas Rivers and cienagasThQ Delta Caftos The Caribbean Hills Serrania Costanera Scrrania Interior Rivers Segovia Highlands Drain age Vegetation The Andes Portugucsa Chain Cor dillera of Merida The Sierra Nevada Mountain torrents Vegetation Pdramos The coastal plain Lake of Maraeaibo Coro and Paraguana lowlands Climate White-water and black-water rivers Seasons Ticrra calienle, templada, and fria Temperature and seasons St Johns little summer Health. CHAPTER II THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF VENEZUELA . . 38Ancient laud of Guayana Comparison with Scottish Highlands Gneisses, schists, and granite Dykes Roraima Series Strange peaks The Caribbean Scries All that glitters is not gold La Galera Segovia Group Natural castles Capacho Limestone The Golden Hill Corro do Oro Series Formation of mountains-Early outlet of Orinoco Cumand Series Shoals and islands Llano gravels Cubagua Beds Igneous rocks-Earthquakes Hot springs A natural kettle Coal Iron Gold Copper Lead Petroleum an4 asphalt Sul phur Salt Urao Ornamental stones Wealth in minerals. u 12 CONTENTS CHAPTER HI PAGE THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS OF VENEZUELA 47 The glamour of the South American forests Hidden treasures Temples of Nature A dim religious light 1 Bejucales - Forest giants Brazil nuts Tonka-beans Rubber Quinine Arctic and tropic formsThe Llanos Tierracalient Natural hothousev-Colour and coolness Pdramo plants Monkeys An old friend Cannibalism Vampires and bats Tigers and lions Hand some is as handsome doesnt M Wild horses Dolphins Prickly mice The waterlog Sloths Birds Many-coloured varieties Umbrella-bird Cock-of - the roc k Toucans Cuckoos Humming-birds Who are you Oil-birds Parrots and macaws Eagles and vultures A national disgrace Gamc-blrds-Snakcs Lizards From the Orinoco to a city dinner A cup-tic crowd Ferocious fish When is a mosquito not a mos quito Agricultural ants Gigantic spiders Ticks A pugnacious crustacean A rich field CHAPTER IV VENEZUELA UNDER SPANISH RULE AND BEFORE 6l Pre-Colombian times No great empire Primitive Ven ezuelansPicture rocks Invasions The Guatavit s and the legend of El Dorado Amalivaca An Incu prince Ancient roads The discovery of Ticrra firme, 1498 Alonso de Ojeda The name Venezuela A greatgeographical fraud Discovery of the treasures of the west Arrival of the conquistadores The slave trade Treacheries of the Cubagua colonists Gonzalex do Ocampo Las Casas First cities of the Now World-Settlement of Coro The Welscrfr Alfinger Ingratitude of Charles V...