Chapter XIV: The City and State of Bolivar 211

An enormous area—How to reach it—Ciudad Bolivar—Climate—San
Felix—Falls of the Caroni—Trade of San Felix—Quality
of “roads”—Upata—Guasipati—Balatá industry—Extravagant
exploitation—Former importance—The goldfields—El
Callao—The discovery—Callao Bis—Big dividends—The common
pursuit—Venamo valley High freights—Poor quality of
labour—Unsystematic working—Goldfields of Venezuela,
Ltd.—Savannahs—Stock-farming—Sugar—Old settlements—An ancient
bridge—Tumeremo and the balatá forests—Killing the goose
that lays the golden eggs—The Caroni—An opportunity for a
pioneer—Up the Orinoco—The “Gates of Hell”—The Caura—Rice
and tonka-beans—“_Lajas_”—Rubber of the Nichare—Falls of
Pará—André’s journeys—Mountains of the upper Caura—The
Waiomgomos—Reticence regarding names—Ticks—Caicara—The
Cuchivero—Savannahs and “_Sarrapiales_”—Sarsaparilla—Climate of
the Orinoco valley.

CHAPTER XV

THE AMAZONAS TERRITORY 223

Area—General character—San Fernando de Atabapo—The upper
Orinoco—Communication with outside world—Atures and Maipures
rapids—Humboldt’s description—The Compañía Anónima de
Navegacion Fluvial y Costanera—General Chalbaud—Railway
projects—The Piaroas—_Curare_—Savannahs—Rubber—Brazil-nuts—Wild
cocoa—Mineral wealth—Water power—Rubber prospectors—Method
of working—Esmeralda—The place of flies—Mt. Duida—Gold
possibilities—The Raudal de los Guaharibos—The limit of
exploration—The Ventuari—An old Spanish road—A midnight
massacre—Stock-raising lands—The Maquiritare—Trading with gold
dust—The Casiquiare bifurcation—Life of the natives—Eau de
Cologne in the wilds—The Guainia and Rio Negro—Maroa—Cucuhy—The
Atabapo—Lack of population—Education—Colonisation—General
prospects.

CHAPTER XVI

THE DEVELOPMENT OF VENEZUELA 235

Commerce—Early history—Pearls and gold—The Guipuzcoana
Company—The republic—Years of struggle—Separation from
Colombia—Guzman Blanco—British, American, and German
trade—Opportunities—Currency—Banking—Banco de Venezuela—Banco
Carácas—Banco de Maracaibo—National Debt—Natural
resources—Large returns on capital—Coal—Iron—Salt—Asphalt
and petroleum—Sulphur—Copper—Gold—The
Llanos—Stock-raising—Possibilities of the industry—The
Venezuelan Meat Products Syndicate—Agriculture—Coffee—Cocoa—
Sugar—Tobacco—Cotton—Rubber—Tonka-beans, balatá, sernambi and
copaiba—Fisheries—Pearls—Industries—Chocolate—Cotton-mills
—Tanning—Matches, glass, and paper—Cigarettes and beer—Arts and
sciences—Academy of History—Universities—Surveys.

CHAPTER XVII

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT 252

Lack of adequate means—Postal service—A small but
growing system—Methods of carriage—Unusual uses of
mailbags—Telegraphs—Telephones—Railways—Bolivar
Railway—Later lines—Tramways—Abundant
water-power—“Roads”—_Carreteras_—Bridle-paths—P.W.
D.—Waterways—Less than they seem—Importance—The
Orinoco—Ports—Shipping—Steamship lines.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FUTURE OF VENEZUELA 261

A great opportunity—The Panama Canal—The
Llanos—Petroleum-fields—Liquid fuel—Position of
Venezuela—Guayana—Possibilities—Colonisation—Government—The
military-political class—The disgrace of labour—Better
conditions—Vargas—The “Matos” revolution—General
Gomez—Hopes to be realised—Honesty and
justice—Development—Roads—Railways—Education—Consular
service—Great Britain’s trade with Venezuela—A poor
third—British capital—The people’s responsibility—An
opportunity.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A 269

Population of States and districts under the Constitution of
1909 according to the census of 1891

APPENDIX B 274

Imports (by classes)—Imports (by countries)—Exports (by
products)—Imports (classes and countries)—Exports (by products
and ports)

APPENDIX C 281

Population, altitude, mean annual temperature and death rate of
principal Venezuelan cities—Heights of principal mountains

APPENDIX D 283

Government finance—Revenue—Expenditure