The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11
A TILT WITH LA CARABTNA.
DRINK SMOOTH TO SWALLOW, BUT
POWEREUL ~ TIE RECOIL.

lneT6 IL no region OF tne ehTth lnolc uo-
| lightful In climate than tho country about San
| Juan on the route between Caracas and tho
| Apure River" said Raimon +. Knight. who re-
| comfy returned TO New York after sojourn of
| several years in Venezuela. Tho village lies
near tho Morro steep mountain rising from
tho plain. landmark for all the region round.
San Juan is noted for its caves some OF which
arc reputed to have no bottom short of the in
fernal regions and for its sulphur spring. which
is said to be cfllcacious In curing pulmonary and
rheumatic complaints. There are some
| ranches owned by Englishmen in the district.
and little colony OF Americans and Europeans
was established at San Juan at the time was
there. On the Sunday before | left for the
Apuro Protestant religious service was held
at San Juan. at which one Of the visitors. the
Rev. Henry 1ykman. n clergyman OF the
Church OF England OBLIGATED l did not attend
the services. but Wendell. my travelling com
panion. did, and aftorward spoke approvingly
to me OF DR.. Tykmans sermon, which was
from the text. Peace on earth. good will to-
ward men,
wendell and made an early start for Apure
the next morning. travelling on horseback.
with Manuel Padia an experienced and trust
worthy llanero as our guide. Each OF us car
ried revolver slung to his belt. after the fash
ion OF travellers In the Pamras country. where
-
where outside the plazas. and packhorse was
loaded with blankets and provisions. against
| the chance OF our having to make wayside
camp. Through most OF the morning our way
led along the bottom OF a Quebrada. stony
ravine where the suns hot rays were reflected
from the broken basalt rock undcrfoot. but
toward noon we came out into the open country
with the plazita OF Flores in view ahead. 1t is
an Insignificant village with single posada.
which impressed me at first sight as being
shade moro miserable than Venezuelan coun-
try inns IN general. We would have passed on
without stopping. but Manuel said the horses
needed rest and fodder. and asked us il we
would like to taste the guarapo. that OF Flores
being celebrated tho best in all the PAM
pas country. Guarapo Is sort OF cider
made from the Juice OF the sugarcane, or
hy dissovlng sugar in water and allowing 1t to
ferment few days. and when well made and
fresh is a very agreeable drink. We thought the
idea good one. and turned into the courtyard
OF the posada, and leaving our horses with
Manuel. went into the taproom. Hero we
sat down at a table. and the landlord set
before us an earthern pitcher Of qua
rapo with two large earthern mugs for
drinking cups. The Ruarnpo was cool
and fresh. our throats were parched after
long riding. and We struck shoal soundings in
the pitcher before the edge Of our thirst was
fairly taken Off. Wendell praised the guarapo.
ordered another pitcherful OF the drink. and
then the devil prompted him to ask the land
lord for aguardiente.
Isl. senior. said the obliGing posadero. and
set bottle and glasses on the table beside tho
pitcher and mugs.
"We spped glass OF the aguardiente. which
we found to be white brandy. fairly well
favored and smoothly potent. l sent the bot
tie and glass to Manuel. who had come in
from The courtyard Hn ,, was drinking EuSrap9
OF the liquor, bowed to us with GractaS.
Are the caballeros ready for their horses? p
:. II we had taken his hint and departed forth
m m Of the subseuuent ' events OF the DAY
but Wende who rode at 225 pounds vas in
tattvely.. They ought to make good stone
HSS viii hes 40 tosethsr In Spanish
ut ia very fine. seror.' the landlord an
o Il eFsss nS
',"Wendei was highly taken with the name
half tumbler Of agSardisntS Into each d our
Ing drink. offered the bottle to the guide tist
We mh sH h mug shodk S SssG
FSsSTd sad %oTgS%ys. xd,sS ooE The
Hopeful expression that fanslcd had refer:
enSe f, more 1Mn to his own welfare than to ours
at San Juan, that whenever a waytarer, stoI-
ning at this posa,da to reircsh, himself with
cardJna. the landlord had sleeping room 'tr set
in order, forthwith: thanking his patron saint
for the f,esS,ng OF guest sure to remain
"Wo had taken our second swallow of la
| cdrabind when horseman. who had Just rid
den into the courtyard and dismountei. ap-
roe. Hullo Git It's ~; tho Parsqn! said WGndsl' and
pTeaehee at tn San Juan he day beors H
pois proper to his 'ilye;and forty years, and
his calling. He was dressed in q correct Eng
sh riding costume. except the hat-and even
donned in Difference to tho climate gained a
certain sedateness o. appearance when worn
corday accepted "y a n to- Sn 4nu
mug OF gparapo. Without delaying 10 explain
TO him the nature Of n carnbiGn, Wendell
| poured into the mug Of our guest a liberal por-
| ton OF aguardiente directly from tina bottle
DR.. Tykman tasted the mixture and approved
go This is r,efreshlng-yery he said. and took
SECOND and longer swallow. Your very good
Then he told us what It had brought him him to
the posadq. He was on his way to the ranch Of
az Engllshmap, about three leagues beyond
the next day. His host was to meet him at tho
| uosada in the afternoon to accompany him to
tho ranch. At this point. all our mugs be-
ing empty. 1t was agreed among us that
| II was fitting to celebrate the meeting
of good company in the wqyside inn by another
| round Of cdrd6ind. l had half emptcd my re-
filed mug when through the doorway saw
| Manuel patiently waiting in the courtyard and
| l was impressed by the look OF sad resignation
on his face. He had a sweetheart expecting
his coming at Azure and was in no mind 10
linger on, the way. Following lucky impulse
| ! rose and went out to whore he was. His face
frightened at my coming
| "'Shall We mount and ride on. SchorY he
said eagerly 1t is an hour past MONDAY and
the Rancho de Estovan is nine full leagues
away
- His words brought, me to realizing sense
OF the situation. for knew that il we failed To
reach the Estovan ranch before dark we
should have to camp on the ano | told
Manuel TO get the horses ready at once and
calling the landlord. settled our score with
him While was counting over the change
there was the sound Of thumping and an out
cry in the taproom. 1t was Wendell hammer
ing the table with the empty bottle and calling
to the landlord to bring more aguardiepte. II
was with some difficulty that persuaded hin,
to forego the taking OF any more drink. but
seeing the horses standing sadded at the
door he at last consented to come along. The