Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10

the steamer safely anchored in front Of La
Gdayra. the seaport Of Caracas. Venezuela
capital To one who has spent long time on
the eastern si,.e OF south America-which is
generally low. Hat and monotonogs-the first
view Of Venezuelan shores Is as agreeable as
striking. reminding him strongly of the more
picturesque Pacific coast Of the same continent,
whose ports are all backed BY mighty Andes
And vhy should 1t not. when those mountains
looming up before you are the Andes them
selves those long lost friends. reluctantly
left behind when YOU sailed through the Strait
Of Magellan-uhich hereabOuts stretch long
arm clear across Venezuela down TO the At
lantic. AZ once You think Of Peru-that most
-csnically charming and Historically interesting.
though now financially the poorest Of all South
American republication this port is a counter
part Of MCllenGo. with long swells perpetually
rolling INFO its roadstead. so heavy at times
that passengers have 20 be hoisted on board the
steamers bv means Of chairs and ropes and for
DAYS together no freigh: can be landed or en-
barket. Another point OF resemblance to the
celebrated Peruvian port IL in the coloring of
the hills that environ it-reddish brown
streaked with gray. mot,led near their rocky
bases with pale green cacti.
TIE WORST PLACE TO BUILD A CITY
celebrated American traveller perfectly de-
scribes La Guayra by saying that if the whole
eUast o. South America had been explored for
the wors. place in 20 900 miles in which to build
city one cOnid not have been found with
greater natural Disadvantages which the inge-
nui.y Of man cannot overcome. At this point
the cOrdlile-s rises almost perpendieularly not
700 feet beyond the rolling surf 20 the height of
i've or six thousand feet, its twin peaks
Nagaats AID AFRO de Avila zone IL. 900 feet
high the other II .0O0l. forming what is called
the -'S;-ls saddle OF Caracas. at whose feet
nestles la Guayra- Or rather IL clings TO the
rocks Lac great barnaele, looking as il any
l. r-.frr -.
fee, f-om the houses IFS one long. dirty street
the SEA- fcor slopes of into 100 fathOms OF
ws;er AID les than = msle ont from their door
steps II Il said to be 2 0O0 feet deep.
The shore. with is line Of lofty hills describes
a!m,si oiTsie. at IrdIns some slight protection
u ve-sei-- BIT MT nearly enough They always
staS fz- ene;.ga GA; to avoid the surf which
ruaz ve-v nign and with tremendous force
Whenever a stsuag breeze Is blowing and as at
Cape HOFa. N@i.rHdo aad few other places on
TIE sartn's ssr.Ics. the average length of a
nan HE j. cot tino enough In which to find a
dzv When breezes are not blowing. Al the first
iatleatlcl- 81 q storm every vessel hauls up its
anchor and speeds away. preferring TO trust
the oce.a. Wild and vile. rather than the
alleged hSrbor.
At be~t % times the anchor lies on sloping
roc&s a. tie bottom! Of the sea ard has 10 be
lifted every few hours or shifting sands would
bary n beyond recovery.
HON rAssUsoERs ARy LANDED.
Passengers arc discharged into open boats a
mile " more from shore. whence they are
rowed syrO-- tina Numbering surf to a pier
where aslisrab4e wisdom aud agility are re-
aSiEsd N selecting the RIOS; favorable spot and
lseclse instant :or making leap 70 terra firma.
However. there are always pieaty of friendly.
though s1ois~ hat dirty. hsEl- stretched out To-
assist The al preaching Traveller; and in cases of
emergency. such a5 thia shoe. or a timOroGs
female. the boatmsn hoist human cargo to their
shoulders With he same neatness and dispatch
That they csrrv bales and boxes % shore There
l. a sort % breakwater. which was originally
intended fO- harbOr purposes, but Is too small
To lie available, consisting OF two moles built
out al an acute angle with the narrow point
open Into this lighters steer while shifting
earsoes aud have a comparatively easy time OF
II, bu; the vessels ragst remain outside. tossed
and tumblei about AZ the mercy OF the pillows
They tell - tAat this abortive piece of work
ea~t o'uxnAn Blanco, the late dictator of Ven
szn-ia large sum Of money. He gave the
Contract for it- building TO a thrifty son of
Connecticut and in the contract was a clause
shich provided that the Yankee should be
I~id when ship could be taken behind it. "