The herald., 1893-07-30
TIPS ON A TRIP TO THE TROPICS
Incident Of a Trip to Points in
Venezuela.
Characteristics Of the Country and
It's Vegetation.
A Storm at Sea-At La Gusyra-A Seduc-
tive-LookIng Fruit Which Is
Deadly Poison-A Beau
tiful City.

my business affairs SO they would per-
NIT my absence few months. l decided
to take trip to Venezuela to look after
the interests OF newly formed steam
ship company of which I was stock
holder, and go on the Goth day OF Octo-
Der found myself about the brigantine
Roanoke, of 400 tons, bound from New
York to La Guayra, the principal sea-
port OF the Venezuelan republic.
The first few days out from New York
our ship was steadily carried along by
brisk breezes, and we had every hope of
making a calm and speedy voyage.
But in this we were doomed to disap-
pointment, for on the fifth day ominous
black clouds began to bank the horizon,
and soon we were pitching and tossing
in one of the fearful gales common in
those latitudes.
The wind shrieked and moaned
through the rigging, while the resist
less pillows lifted on high their crested
heads and hurled themselves upon our
gallant chip. Beaten by the waves,
driven hither and thither by the winds,
our vessel sprung q leak, and soon all
hands, passengers and crew, were toll
ing at the pumps.
For SO hours we battled with the
forces of the deep with but little time
for rest or food, and when wet and ex-
hausted we crept into our narrow hunks,
we expected every instant to be shot out
upon the floor like stone from a cling,
However, oil thing must end, and
III kaI and m dlvy
capable of further exertion, the storm
began to abate and in short time all
traces OF the late tumult had wants he'd,
leaving the sea as calm and tranquil as
the surface of a sheltered lake.
One sad accident, however. cast a
gloom over our voyage. One OF the sea-
men aloft repairing a tattered sail, for
some unaecountable reason lost his bal
ance and fell into the sea. Instantly all
was confusion, ropes and planks were
thrown to the unfortunate man, but to
no purpose. He was either stunned by
his fall or dragged down by his heavy
clothes, for he sank to rise no more.
In short time we arrived at the Sar-
gasso sea, and as II to torment US with
their varied moods, wind and wave
slowly subsidized, leaving US drifting on q
sea as tranquil as one of glass. Scarcely
breath stirred our listless calls. Little
life was to be seen.
Here and there the playful porpoise
gamboled as if for our amusement. while
occasionally a jet OF watery vapor rising
above the oceans surface marked the
course of some solitary whale.
Almost nothing was done on ship
board. The passengers during the mid
day lay idly stretched in the shade OF
the sails or leaning on the rail watched
the varied forms OF life that found refuge
in the floating sea weed.
When several hundred miles from our
destination a fair breeze eprang up,
sending our ship briskly through the
tropical sea, and in few days we cast
anchor in the harbor of La Guayra, and
soon all passengers, taking advantage of
the army of small boats that piled
around our vessel. were on shore tor the
first time Ia our long and eventful
though pleasant voyage OF II days.
La Guayrais more a roadstead than a
haYbor, and the heavy ocean swell rem
derH the landing of livestock freight ex-
ceedingly difficult. The passengers are
generally conveyed to shore in small
boats manned by brawny black and mu-
latto boatmen. These men are very
skillful and daring oaremen, and their
perfect fearleesness OF the many large
sharks that abound in the harbor is a
surprise to strangers visiting La Guayra.
The town itself is situated on narrow
strip Of beach only few hundred feet
in width, at the base OF lofty mountains
whose rounded domes and jagged peaks
are covered with the luxuriance OF
tropic growth, and consists OF few
struggling rows of whitewashed adobe
and stone dwellings, each surrounded
by its own little garden, where bread
fruit, oranges and bananas grow in the
utmost profusion.
After staying in La Guayra q short
time and finding all my business affairs
in a satisfactory condition, decided to
visit Cumana, a lovely and little fire.
uuented town further down the coast,
and hearing that a small steamer. the
Pecificador by name, that regularly
piled between La Guayra and Cumana,
was ready to sail, engaged my passage
and went aboard. The trip was short,
only occupying two days, but it was an
exceedingly pleasant one. We stood out
from La Guayra several miles, and for
bOmo ulhbbuCO eAiItCu oAoHS VIZ CCd6ts
that was here covered with the varied
vegetation OF the tropics. The man
grove. lover of salt water, was to be
seen in the utmost profusion, and it's
matted roots, half covered by the tide,
afforded refuge for multitudes OF tiny
crabs and shellfish.
A few hundred feet from the shore lay
the treacherous coral reefs whltened by
the foam OF the breakers. Here and
there lay little islets, some mere banks
of eand, others covered by thickets OF
mimosa and groves of cocoanuts.
On nearing Cumana we passed the
Caracas islands, group only inhabited
by wild goats and monkeys. Beyond
these lay the beautiful island OF Marga-
rita like great emerald on theunruff1ed
surface of the sea. and at sunset we
steamed into the gull of Carisea and
cast anchor opposite Cumana. AS it
was nearly dark we had no opportunity
of observing the town till We landed
early next morning.
Cumana, typical Spanish American
town, is picturesquely situated at the
base OF verdure.clad foothills of the
Andes. Nearly every house was en-
powered in beautiful trees and graceful
lianas. Lofty palms lifted their fern
like creets far above the cosy dwellings,
while here and there the dark-leaved
orange tree, laden with it's golden fruit,
stood out against the background OF
azure sky.
Thousands of bright hued humming
birds .darted amongst the fragrant