The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-13
Interesting fron venexusIa.


Upata- Prospects and Disappointment- The
PIN Money Of lMadom Monagas Cspidity Of
the Venesueisn Government England at Her
Old Work-Distressing State Of the Country
The Warra,o Esdians-M au,itia Palns-A NeD
Indian King Wanted.
Owing to the setting in of the rainy season and
the consequent rise Of the Oronoco river and its si
butaries, commerce has shaken of i's summer ler
thargy and produce is coming down daily and
steamboats, are once more plying. still the star Of
Angosturs is decidedly on the decline, and the
amount Of produce exported this year will fall very
much short of that of the foregoing years.
The immense price Of hides has had most per
nicious influence upon the cattle growing parts Of
Venezuela. What there was left by the soldiers and
other public robbers has oeen killed by the owners,
merely TO sell the hides; and unless the killing is
entirely stopped for some three or four years, the
cattle will be extermnated before long. Instead Of
100000 hides which we're expo: ted yearly formerly,
this years amount cannot exceed 800 oO0 The pre-
sent price for sweet and washed hides in this market
is s22 per quintal. The Drop Of Tonqua beans will
amount TO H., 90 sacks; the price ranges from $25
10 $50 per 100 pounds
Coffee is exported from here only in small quanti-
tics--price SO so to $40 so per quintai OF indigo
there will be about 200 cesoons, which may sell at
$50 Per quntal. But the article which has most de-
clned in amount ia tobacco. Until some years
ago the amount yearly exported was 10000 quin-
tails, more OF less; at present there is SO little as
hardly to have fixed quotation in the Market it ID
believed, though, that there will be about 600 quin-
tails, which may sell at $40 per quintal. TIE kind
OF tOba exported nom here comes from the pro-
vince Of Varinas, and has been for long time the
IaItu nlraro hn NJ
Knaster. good speculation might be made by start
ing on a large scale wOodcutting enterprise; the
diewo od, or gautheriu tinoforia, abounds on botn
yellow sides Of the Oronoco river; but owing to
the extremely unsettled state of the country and the
difficulty of procuring wOrkmen would not recon-
mend it to your readers.
new FL Dorado has been discovered at about
feur day. travelling from here. The district which
lays in due eastern direction from here, is called
Upata the mines are believed to be the same which
the Spanish iopged much TO discover. SOme
years ago the Indians living In that vicinity OBJ
tanned some specimens Of auyferous metal from the
beds of several small mountain rivuets Some white
people then went to examine the whole district put
not meeting with any decided success the matter
soon died out. A few months ago some Jumps of
gold were found on the slope OF two small hills
This all at once raised the gold fever TO the boiling
point. The largest part If the clerks and worknen
have left the city for the Mines leaving their former
employers in distressing STATE for the want OF
hands. The specimens of yoia which have come 10
town until now ave very much like those found in
the early time OF California discovery in the valley
Of Sacramento. But the setaing IN OF the rainy
season, and the consequent overlooking OF the mines,
have put stop to part Of the miang opera ions, at
least for this season. causing thereby serious dis
appointment to the miners
Shorty after the discovery of the present FL Do.
ado The peaceful citizens OF this city were startled
by the warlike appearance OF two spiked old guns
and dozen of Buskets without locks, all of which,
together with dozen Of shoe and sbiruess greas-
ers were hurried off towards the Mines for the pur-
pose of establishing there, as the official despatch
say "a state of legal order" To Judge from this,
some OF your readers might fancy that everything
Ia the mines was in q delightful disorder; but no
such thing il the case In the opinion OF Mr. Mona
gas there only exists order where he can reap .
"pockesiul Of rocks" This he intends to accom-
phsh by levying duty of ten per cent on all the
gold found; So instead of illegal order" just read
illegal robbery" and everything comes right
While speaking Of Monagas, cannot avoid men
aware, to wit--that Madame Monagas gets larger
sum for pin-money than any queen o; princess. AS
all the money Of which Monagas robs the country
yearly goes to Eu1ope for the purpose OF securing
a berth there for the whole family, In case they
should have to follow the ilustrous example Of the
Bourbon and Orleans families, the poor man cannot
afford to supply his better half with the occasional
"liitie change which the daughters of Eve 30
knowingly have styled "pin money" SO Madame
Monagas had to look around on her own hook, and,
guided by that clairvoyance which distinguishes the
Sambo beauries wherever this interest Is at stake
her eye ahghted on the Custom House at Laguayrs.
which she singled ont for her private use.
The Custom House OF Laeuayra Is the most pro
ductive OF Venezuela. II produces yearly the round
sum OF 100000. This money had received from
Congress the destination Of serving TO pay the saa
res of the officials of the COVE rnment who, instead
of ready cash. all received papers at sight against
the sand Custom House. But a. the administration
is particular friend Of Madame Monsgas, the
good man never has any money when checks are
presented; nor does he ever know when he will
have ny-6n the contrary, he throws out pretty
broad hints that the chest Is TO remain empty for
good many years. The Unfortunate official, seeing
all his efforts 10 get his check paid useless IL co n
PEELED by impending starvation to sell IL to Madame
Monsgas or her agent with q discount OF SO per
cent or course toen, all nc once the Golfers OF the
Custom Houre are full 10 OVERLOOKING, ana Madame
Monagas In poll ely invited to receise the reward
Of her "smartnees.p by tbis shameful practice she
manages 10 make about $500 900 a year, a 'pin-mo-
ney" larger than that Of the Queen OF England.
After this 1t Is not 70 be wondered thst venezuela
Ia getting every day deeper and deeper In diicnl-
ties and has for seve al years past not been able 10
pay the interest of her debts.
Having nov vis ed moss OF the uopulous cities Of
Venezuela, can give you m les words a resume
OF it's present condition. From the highly prosper
state in which Venezueh was az the time OF The
re volution, 1t has now d~ndled down TO state
Dor deriDg on primitive savageness. Although the
cause Of ts pecuDiary d'flcaites lies chiefly With
Manages, the entne ruin Of agriculture aud the UNI
settled state Of the country owing altogether 10
the old fedora or ogsrch,c party, tthe party OF
Paez,) who are continually making new revolutions,
although they know the impossibty OF ga ceediog
To this comes the indoence OF all Spansh-Ameri
can countries. the entire absence OF any moral and
rel goGs feeling, (they are fanatic, but not reli
gious,) and their preverbisi bad faith.
A Venezuelan will hug and kiss man, swear
thousand oatbs Of friendship 10 him, and all this
for the purpose OF watching an Opportunity OF
chea ing him. The character Of the Venezueans
IL essentially the same a. that Of the Mexicans.
Their greatest delight Ia 10 trouble and vex foreign
err, and, ike spoiled children, they are immensely
fond OF sho sing and displaying their authority.
Frequently whole town ~il consp,re TO cheat aud
rob q foreigner. As soon az stranger msrries In
the country be and his property may be said TO be.
long 10 his wife, family, and all OF them manage 20
cleverly, that at the end Of few years, man who
was in easy circumg ances when ne married, fuds
himself beggar. But a. keen as they are ut cheat
ing, 20 wanting are they in matters of courage.
For this reason highway robberies OF scarce oc-
currence in Vepezuela- To attack man, there must
be at leas:a dozen we'll armed greasers, and even