New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-09-03
south American Life. Manners, Dress. 40 Il G.

Mr. Gre ~. A. this ! an Oui-Ofthc-wey Kind o
place perhaps short desert pton Of and the peopl,
may be ofinieresL This i situated on the IVES
side Of the outlet Of Lake Maracaibo, four or nv,
miles therefrom and twenty-five from the Gulf o.
the same name.
The country for several miles around i nearly
barren, with only here and there tree The
Cactus species O; plant, however, iouri-hes well
for ii often grows 70 the hight Of twenty feet and j:
used for hedges. This want of vegetation no doubt
has a tendency 10 keep the town healthy. On the
hills near by are numerous specimens Of peirifed
wood some Of which have been the trunks OF good
sized trees Here are also hollow sand stones, about
he size of a lemon, '. hch when shaken have a
rafting sound caused By a round piece of white
cav in the inside. The houses are generally one
story, whitewashed on the outside, with large doors
and windows. the latter without glass. and well
adapted 10 the climate The roofs. unlike the hot
way OF covering with shingles a. is done in some
OF the West India Islands, are made by laying
reeds close together the raiIer- next TO bed Of
mortar, and then tiles The floors are also OF large
flat tiles The people of every grade Of c0.Or.
from the African Of the deepest dye. 20 the white Il
Andausian. They are gOOd-nafured but rd0eLi; many
may be- seen swinging IN their hammOcNs after eleven
O'Clock in the morning Although they commit small
ihefts-scarceiy burglary OF highway robbery nt-
been known for years The dress Of the men generally
consists Of white light cO.Orcd roundabout ana
pantaloons OF cotton Or linen with Panama bar ani
slippers. some wOuldbe grandees. absurd ~ i' may
for Tropical climate wear cloth coat and oeA
fur hat.
The ladies have not bonnots but throw lace shawl
their head taking good care that their beautiful
black hair and plentiful supply OF combs should mo"
fhrOu III the lnerrilces over the mead tncy carry 4
six umbrella Of either hight red blue color. Around
the shoulders Is thrown gsudy silk handkerchief with
the figures Of Chinese. &C thereon. The dress j. Of
silk high colored calico The children until 80 or
in Paradise rc-mcniais- Many Oh the aNnrfr-
and bOatmen are nearly the same when "a work. One
day shower came mp from the mountains and cooled
the atmosphere down % - degrees at which iempcri
this class of the population was shiverins with
cold. The range Of the Thermometer for thu isst
month or two from - % H0 IN the shade during me
day
Almost every thing j. carried about the town on mems
shoulders such bale Of shectng ceroon of sugar or
bag OF coffee. Those in the habit Of carrying become
very strong. / saw one man take two bags Of coffee
weighing p lbs and carry them 20 yards to be Emp
ped not once but for an hour together
There is not half dozen carts IN the town neiiner
will they have them vessel with several Il now here,
and there is sale for them she VIII be Obliged 70
take them back Indeed nearly every thing IS done ia
primitive manner, even the corn il ground as IN scrip
lure times by the women
The onlv fourwheeed vehicle j. a ROckaway wagon.
owned by an American Although il has been here for
some time yet when the owner takes drive about the
streets the people Of their houses 20 and
the children after IT, What would they ito d one
Of our Locomotives should come amongst them
The produce Of the country is either brought down
the Lake in small schoOners from the m0unisn- on
donkcys But Of the poorer classes eat wheat bread
account of its high price all that j. used here comes
from the United states, and pays duty OF = per bHif
They live mostly plantains corn-cakes cocoa and
goats milk cheese
This town contains from 10 to 900 inhabitants and
has seven churches (al Cathohc) each of which has
four bells Of different sizes They hung in the four
walls of the tower and such Jngng ~ Il Kept up
from daylight I'LL nine O'Clock At night cannot be- beat
in any part Of the world.
The way laws are published is 20 march ME OF sol
dicrs to the Market iacc there beat the drum 20 call
the people together then read the law and all this for
want OF newspaper.
daylight u curious sound grccis his ear sometimes
-ingIy then cOmmngng lie soon pcrceives II 70 pro-
coed from women washing clothes. They wade out
several feet take hold of the clothes 40 one enc sng
them over the head bringing them down with power
hl stoke on a smooth rock or log. OF course, under
such treatment they do not last long.
Al night also he would often hear regular tattoo beat
the side of for the purpose OF charming the
fish. when they caught by net or line
The burying yard is surrounded by wall about
twelve feet high and several thick Many Of the inonu-
mcnts would look like so many chuneys three or lour
feet high were il not for the large succeed cap This
goes up peak somewhat like the ROOF OF house,
hat spreading much beyond the base on al sides
ready topple over. In one end OF this cap
al an angle of Soui Is degrees il often placed tablet
OF few inches square, which Is rudely cut the name
age sc OF the deceased. Three or four Of the monu-
meni however OF beautiful white marble from the
United States In corner Of the yard above The
ground a number OF oven shaped places punt oi
brick IN which the remains of Priests have been de
uD.i'ei aud then masOned up Al the farther SIDE OF me
ward from the entrance steps leading Ia the
top of the wall On going up these you look over mo
yard dozen feet square and see ali that remains Of
mortal Here thrown promiscuous IN large pAe
are bones OF parts the body and skulls OF all shapes
and sizes What place for Phrenoiogist or AnAio
mist There was also beautiful resses OF ladies
hair together with the remains OF grave clothing al
mingled 10 one common fate This place i the recepta
Gle of all dsinterrcd bodies from the grave yard.
The national sport is cock lighting There Is large
building In the centre OF the devoted 10 that pur
pose and curiousy enough, surmounted by cross.
f,t This sport is not confined In taking walk last
sunday in the outskirts Of the town saw AT some dis
lance a group Of persons under a large tree who ap-
peared 10 be- in high state OF excitement On approach
ine perceived they engaged IN cock hshtin- IN
the centre of the circle the com5aianis and Wa
wonderful 10 observe how men could become so excited
over such a small business such shouting and talking
in the Pk-some in the tree others IN their cagcrness
to see bending forward and others again their knees
in the sand with head bent forward looking as anxious
At each stroke If the spur peek Of the bill though
their life or an empire depended the issue At lat
one of the combaianis killed nj which there went
up shout that weud have put to tight whole rbe Of
North American savages
II is said that the Priests have the influence
the people formerly yet saw beautiful writing
ae.k that had been given 10 Priest few days ago By
widow for saying mass for the soul of her husband
As have written enough for the present,
4