Evening star., 1896-08-15

portatlon or an increasing amount Of excel
rent conee, OF both Venezuelan and Colom-
bian growth. but classed as Maracaibo.
The shores of the lake are usually rather
low, except toward the south and the moun-
tains, and this is true also Of the long neck
OF bracksh water competing the lake body
with the gulf. Along these bordering plains
are extensive groves of coco palms the
source OF easy wealth to their owners. Civ
ing also to the landscape by their stately
grace distinct and pleasing aspect The
palm Is the characteristic tree of the trop-
les, as varied in its usefulness as it is sin
gular In its beauty. Besides these freuuent
PAIN groves one notes groups of the grace
Iul date palm, and sometimes in the dream
ing lake villages the pueblos, rows Of the
nople palma real,' or royal palm, sugges-
tive Of the perfection and the forms of
Corlnthian architecture, and wonders that
the English language could give so INSULT
cfent and poor a name Cabbage palm
to the most finished tree in the world.
The lakeside homes all embowered in
trees. usually bearing fruit, such as the
orange, tamarind, sapodilla, mango, custard
apple (anona squamosa), soursop (anona
muricata. pomegranate, almond and fig
bread fruit (artocarpus incisa), the red and
the white guava, the cashew, and the Gala
bash and "lechosa" tcarica papaya). the
first bearing sumner squash" and the last
a nectarous fruit of the size and appear
ance OF better cantaloupe than you ever
ate And among the coast fruit trees the
"uva de playa" or grape tree (cocoloba
resembles beech tree, and bears separate
berries of the size, shape and flavor of
grapes. which fall when ripe, and are much
lelished,. And less than a tree, but giving
tropical character to the coast scenery, Is
the prevalent and useful banana, furnishing
almost without cost more nutriment per
acre than is derived from twenty acres of
wheat.
A Fertile Land.
When 1T Is considered that this lake has
over 400 miles of such shore line, with
elongations up the principal streams, and
that the fertile soil is invigorated by trop-
Il al heat and degree of constant humid
tty, 1t becomes apparent that this portion
OF Venezuela is destined to sustain a dense
and thriving population. 1t is also
healthy region, and one peculiarly attract
I've especially as one approaches the foot
bills of the Andes, south and east from the
lake, and almost feels the magnificent snow
peaked mountain masses tower above him,
and inhales from them purer breath. The
state Of Zulia, which contains the great
lake, contains also portions Of the great
mountains, upon one of which stands the
ancient city Of Merida, 5,30S feet above the
lake-a city of 1900 inhabitants, which be-
fore its destruction by earthquake in 1872
was the largest city in Venezuela. and is
now renewing its prosperity, and antici-
pating railway comm nication JOG miles
with point of river and lake navigation.
Near the foot of this lake, on its western
shore. is the city of Marac aibo, the market
for the products Of the surrounding region
and considerable portion Of Colombia. 1t
Is impossible to state accurately its popula-
ton, but 1T probably exceeds $4,000. The
city is only few feet above the level Of
the lake, and stands upon sandy soil. It's
mean annual temperature Is q little over
SO degrees Fahrenheit. yet 1t is, with its
constant heat considered healthy. Foreign