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

Maiquetia. q village mile west of La Guavra,
and the splendid cacao palms of Nacuto the
Long Branch of Venezuela. three miles east of
the port. BY the wav. the cocoa and the cocoa
nat tree, so frequently COMPOUNDED in English
spelling and in the inagina:ions Of people who
have never seen either, are as widely different
In themselves as trees can be. The latter is
the product OF the palm. remarkable for the
height II attains and the prodigious size of the
fruit, which grow in punches bigger than a
man can lift Cocoa, on the contrary. grows
on moderately sized tree in pods resembling
large cucunbers. of rich chocolate color out
side. Each pod is filed with oblong nuts en-
veloped in white. slightly acid pulp which is
Is agreeable to the taste of monkeys. parrots
and other tropical pests as are cherries to the
northern robins, so that a cocoa plantation has
to be carefully guarded il its owner wishes to
derive any profit therefrom.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
Having at last been permitted to land you
find that it does not take nearly as long to see
all there is Of La Guayra as to rescue your lug
gage, be it much or little. from the aduana OF
custom house. 1t Is a two-storied edifce OF
some architectural pretensions, with walls thick
and strong enough 20 be both bomb and earth
quake proof, connected with the wharf by a
trsmway. 1t is built in the old spanish stvle
with long line of pillars in front, 10 which an
awning Is attached, rendering its alcove de-
way gives admittaHce to the paved court yard
around which the store rooms grand
staircase leads to the upper story. where the
adEauero, or chief OF the custom house, resides
with his family, and where also is a suite OF
splendid rooms for the use of the presiden;
whenever he chooses to visit the port. Ii is a
busy place. being the most important aduana
In the republic, and large qua ltity Of mer-
chandise passes through the hands of its Off
eials. for, Notwithstanding its wretched ship
ping facilities. La Guayra carries on a very
active trade with foreign marts, as is attested
by the number of English. French. German and
Italian merchants. with few Americans whose
warehouses line the wharves.
Proceeding to the Hotel Neptune you find a
large, deep, frowning editice. whose street en-
trance runs into the inevitable patio, whence
numerous staircases lead off. in the most I'M
accountable manner, to various parts of the
building. Ii Is as picturesque as dirt and dis
order can make il, and as uncomfortable as
picturesque. with n number. variety and in
tensity OF smells which are perpetual astonish-
pnent to the most hardened olfac. tories.
Walking about little you find that the bust
ness houses are two and three stories in height
making The little heu-coop huts of the negroes
who compose about half OF the population
look even smaller BY contrast The crooked
ill-psSed street has sidewalks about two feet
wide, dinly lighted ut night by oil lamps A
river runs through ne town on its way TO til,
sea, crossed By innumerable bridges, which art
the finest ornaments of the place. There is
plaza with grove of aimendrone trees planted
IN Il and statue of GaZman Blanco in tbs
middle, a covered market house. a theater and
several churches. More interesting than thesC
common features are the ruined Spanish fort,
perehed above the city rocks which have
many times been stained with blood when ter
ME conflicts took place in DAYS gore by, ant
the prisons of Las Bodedas, well known by sal
| experience 20 modern patriots and political agi
tators who happened. unfortunately for them
selves, to have cas-. their 10; on the losing side
FANNIE B. WARD.