Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/314

 294 VENEZUELA celebrated dividivi, gums, resins, spices, and medicinal plants and herbs. The principal cul- tivated products and the number of acres de- voted to each in 1873 are as follows : PRODUCTS. Acres. PRODUCTS. Am*. -, 51490 Wheat 9,282* 304,725 Cocoa 1,887* 9,752f Plantains 68,510 15,000 Various grains and 1 487J pulse 65,475 Sugar cane 87,000 Fruits 21,000 Yuca Maize 25,000 87,957* Total 693,217* From these figures it appears that only about x^g of the area of the republic, or 1,094 sq. m., is cultivated, while the whole cultivable region is said to embrace an area of 105,084 sq. m. The coffee shrub was introduced into Vene- zuela in 1784, and it thrives well at elevations between 650 and 5,500 ft. The chief cacao plantations are along the coast from Guiria (Cumana) to the mouth of the Tocuyo. Indi- go culture, once very extensive, has been gradu- ally giving place to that of other staples for 30 years; the product in 1841 was 552,781 Ibs., and in 1873 only 182,956 Ibs. But little sugar is now exported, though it is largely produced ; of 90,690,817 Ibs. manufactured in 1873, only 4,997,465 Ibs. was shipped to foreign ports. Cotton is sown in May and June, and flowers in November. The plantain is a staple article of food for a large portion of the inhabitants ; as is also maize, which is largely cultivated in the lowlands. Tobacco is extensively grown for export, that of Barinas being especially esteemed in Europe. "Wild animals are very numerous. Tho principal quadrupeds are the jaguar, panther, tiger cat, tapir, a species of black bear, fox, peccary, deer, badger, and fer- ret. Venezuela has 14 varieties of monkeys, one of them, the titi, being in some districts not over 6 in. in length. The rodents include squirrels, rats and mice, porcupines, rabbits, and agoutis. Among the amphibious quadru- peds are the otter, capybara, and chiguire. Sloths, armadillos, and two species of anteaters are the principal edentates. The cetaceans are represented by the manatee, touina (a kind of large dolphin), cachalot, and sword fish, the two first abounding in the large rivers. The prin- cipal reptiles are the cayman and the 6a6a, a smaller species of the same genus ; the iguana, basilisk, and chameleon ; the boa, attaining at times a length of 50 ft.; the traya venados (deer swallower) ; and 15 varieties of snakes, 10 of which, especially the rattlesnake and ma- caurel, are venomous. Myriads of noxious in- sects infest all parts of the lowland; and gigan- tic spiders and centipedes more than 12 in. long, whose sting, in common with that of the yel- low scorpion (likewise very numerous here), produces terrible fevers. Enormous bats com- mit great ravages among the cattle, sucking their blood, and attacking even man himself during his sleep. Excellent fish abound in the lakes and rivers and along the coasts, especially the liza, found in the channel separating the island of Margarita from the mainland, and salted and dried for export and for the interior. Margarita was formerly celebrated for its pearl fishery, which is still continued, but much re- duced in value. There are two kinds of vul- tures, three of hawks, and two of owls ; par- tridges and pigeons are plentiful ; there are 14 different species of waders and 10 of divers; the Venezuelan parrots yield only in variety to those of Brazil ; and the exquisite plumage of the small birds, conspicuous among which are trogons, tanagers, and toucans, is unsurpassed in the world. All the European barnyard fowls thrive well in the temperate region. Vast herds of horned cattle, sheep, horses, mules, asses, and swine roam in a wild state over the plains, whence they take refuge in the elevated districts during the rainy season. The number and value of the live stock in the whole repub- lic in 1873 were returned as follows : horned cattle, 1,889,802, value $22,236,832'; sheep and goats, 1,1 28,273, value $1,692,409; horses, 93,- 800, value $4,690,000; mules, 47,200, value $1,888,000; asses, 281,000, value $1,686,000; and swine, 362,597, value $2,175,042; total value, $34,868,282. The Venezuelans in gen- eral are intelligent andcourteous. Though all enjoy equal civil rights, without respect of caste or color, the whites retain the power of the state in their own hands ; while the mixed races, though more indolent and apathetic, are given to turbulence, and are commonly the in- stigators of factious quarrels and revolutions. Tho chief industries are agriculture and cattle rearing. Continued internecine strife until late- ly, and lack of adequate implements and of suit- able means of transport to the coast, have ma- terially retarded development; but much has been done since 1873 by Gen. Guzman Blanco'a government toward building roads and extend- ing the navigation by steam of the great rivers, lagoons, and lakes of the country. The manu- factures include cotton fabrics both by hand and machinery, hammocks, hats, cordage, &c. ; in Merida, woollen carpets, tastefully varie- gated with brilliant colored flowers from a na- tive dye, are extensively made ; ship building is carried on in Puerto Cabello ; numerous brick yards are found in different parts of the re- public ; and several thousand persons are em- ployed in manufacturing cigars and cigarettes, exquisite preserves and sweetmeats, and cacao. Several kinds of oil are made, especially cocoanut, sesame, and tdrtago oils; and per- fumes and essences from magnificent and fra- grant flowers are extracted in large quantities. There are also a few cart and carriage factories. The foreign commerce is now likely to increase rapidly with the preparation of new and much needed roads, and the extension of steam traf- fic on the lakes and rivers, and above all with the inauguration of an era of peace. Among exports coffee still holds the first rank, that of Maracaybo and La Guayra being in good de-