The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-03

CARACAS, Sept. 4, lS4s.

CARACAS, Sept. 4, l548.
In former years, when resided In philadelphia.
now ana then forwarded to you articles for pub
lcatlon, and particularly, gave you a history of
the famous adventurer, J. Ehovlch Bra.ish, the
sefcalled General and Consul for Greece. I
shall do the same now, residing as have done for
several years past in thus republic, where the
events occurring are worth notice and deserving
attention, as spectacle of republic where civil
war is raging. ! have seen some of the commu-
nicatlons in your paper, dated Caracas from our
friend +" Nameerf" The last saw was dated
9Th of last month, saying that a naval engagement
had been fought in Caracas That is absurd for
Caracas is not seaport, but city elevated $500
feet above the level of the sea, and I6 miles from
the sea-shore. Instead OF Caracas, presume 1t
should have been Curacao, which is one of the
Dutch islands in the Csrbbean sea, nearly opposite
Porto Cabello. The enclosed letter has come
from Margarita, from our friend Seth, who, no
doubt, writes to you of the political state of thai
island, now the seat of war, or rather in its wa
ters,. where the two fleets will meet to decide
the fate of this country. President Monagas,
has dismissed his Minister of the Interior and
Justice, viz. DIR. Thomas Sanavria. This person
has been the rum of this country; he Is an Inta-
nous demagoeue and ought never to have occu-
pied the ministerial chair. Persecution Is still
going on here on a great scale, in consequence of
raj persons OF the Paez party These have all
been arrested and placed under trial. God knows
what will be the result Yesterday vessel arrived
from Margarta, to the government, bringing des-
patches. believe 1t will sail again to morrow
taking with it's 500 to pay the troops there, which,
according to the amount of money, can't be a
large number. AS to the government fleet, we
don't know yet where it is; no doubt, by this
time, somewhere near the faclious fleet, and, no
doubt, when they meet, smart engagement will
take place. The government fleet consists of
eleven sail, that is, five briggs and six schooners,
without being so well mounted as the Maracalbe-
ros' fleet which, am told, is In very good order.
Should any thing interesting turn up before the
vessel goes, shall advise you of it, so that you
may have news from all quarters of this republic.
AsuNcIoN DE MARGARrrA, Aug. s, lS4S.
The arrival of an American steamer at Pampa,
tar, few days since, from La Guayra, with a
battalion of troops, under command of Gen Silva
with twentyseven officers put this little island in
quite commotion, and particularly when it was
known that this reinforcement had been despatch
ed on information that Gen. Paez was about to
take possession of the island. The steamer, l am
informed, left her American papers in y 1uayra,
and made the trip under the flag of Ven(R0ela.
There are now about 600 troops IN the island, well
armed and equipped, to repel the invasion by Paez;
but how far they will succeed, we are to find out
hereafter.
This island is province of Venezuela, situated
about fifteen miles from the coast of the province
of Cumana, and, in military point, is to Venezu-
ella what Great Britain is to Europe. Being sepa-
rated from the main land, an army cannot invade
II, except by transports; and as the squadron of
Paez has dispersed Mat of Monagas, and should
his forces once get possession OF the island 1t will
be difficult to drive him out again. The island
contains about 25,ooO inhabitants: Asunclon is
Gltn nfHn .t1ttn N,.Io
by mountains, and defended by castle.
IL. however, rs but decimal Of what it once was.
OF its five stone churches, four are In ruins and
It's ruins are very extensive, more so than have
met with IN any pant of Venezuela.
From the capital there Is a level road through
valley to Pampatar, seaport, distance AZ miles,
TO the eastward, and like road to Juan Oregon,
a seaport to the north, distance six miles both
places defended by forts.
The Inhabitants are, generally, poor, but have
some wealthy men among them, who have ac-
qulied their wealth by their fisheries. They sup
ply nearly the whole of Venezuela with sailed
fish. Indian corn is produced in abundance on
the island. The women employ themselves In
making hammocks and chip hats There are
more men on this island employed In small vessels
and boats than in all the rest of Venezuela. The
pearl fishery was formerly carried on at this
island TO considerable extent, but, within the last
year, has been entirely abandoned. Owing to the
low price of pearls In Europe, IT Will not pay the
expense, including the high price OF a licence.
rubber at ket is used is 81 200 per annum payable
in advance and every separate boat must pay
the same icence. But the divers only pay $40
per month. They dive down in thirty feet water
and bring up the oysters in their hands and fire.
quently, out of one hundred oysters, they do not
find single pearl; but as the value OF labor is
only from fifteen TO twenty cents day, they have
been enabled to make living, when the price Of
pearls was high. Two Italians have ruined them
selves with the use OF the Italian drag and one
Frenchman shot himself, after completing his ruin
with a diving jacket. So much for the pearl
fishery OF Margarita
The inhabitants are generally industrious and
well-dlsposed and, as class, are the best In
Venezuela. We shall promptly have additional
particulars, when you will hear from me again.
-.s~ .. r-- SD.
AsUNcIoN, CAPITAL DE MARGARrTA,}
August ID, 1913.
Since my communication OF the 9th instant, ]
have made trip to the city Of Cumana by the
mail boat; and, on returning by the same craft,
being within two miles of the American schooner
Cecil, Capt. Blnny, of Baltimore, employed In ex-
tracing dollars from the wreck of the Spanish
ship San Pedro, we deserted several sail of YES
sells under the Margarlta shore, at p. M. on the
9Th inst and we came to the conclusion that il
ID. ~