The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-28
At The PORT
Of VENEZUELA
La Guayra as 1t Appears to
Travellers.
Is BUILT ON A SHELF
It Is Dirty and Greasy and So
are Its People.

aginabie between the two chief ports Of
Venezuela, Id Guayra and Puerto Ca
bello, the one sitting at the foot of a
tance from the hills. Both are hot. how
ever, and to some extent unhealthy; al
though the foreigner, especially the Ger
man. has lived here with apparent i'm
munity from endemic diseases for many
years The voyage to either La Guayra
or Puerto Cabello, Via Curacao, occupies
about six days with call at Porto Rico
on the way. La Guayra is $50 miles dis
tant from Port Of Spain, Trinidad. rs
the course along the coast is run; Puerto
Cabello is ab,st seventy miles from La
/ Guayra and IL from Curacao If the
last named is taken first on the south
ward voyage. the trip across from Cur
acao TO La Guayra is made under half
speed and generally at night. so that the
roadStead is gained at dawn. Steep be-
fore you. then. rise the rugged mountains,
forming the defensive bulwarks upon
winch the inhabitants Of Venezuela rely
strongly for repelling foreign invasion
The enemy may be able TO lombard or
take La Guayra; he may possibly de-
Caracas: but he will be likely to have
tough time of it in scaling the
heights and gaining the mountain valley
in which NeneZuela's capital is situated.
AS viewed from the steamers deck, there
is no opening apparent in the noun
tains serried ranks no crack or crevice
even. through which an invading army
might gain access to the interior. The
distance from La Guayra to Caracas,
las the crow flies, is only six miles: but
the railroad between the two points winds
its sonuous length over a distance of
twentyfOur miles in covering the space
separating the mountain valley from the
sea.
Unlike Puerto Cabello, La Guayra lies
on an open bay. exposed to the great
waves that come rolling in from the Car
ibbean and toss the visiting steamers and
smaller craft about like chips and corks.
A magnificent breakwater has improved
the natural conditions greatly, and while
IL has been the cause OF increased port
charges, IL has faciiftarrf the landing-o.
bot hfreight and passengers. And yet.
be it never so easy of access, La Guayra
is a port which would scarcely be Wis
tied at all. were it not that ii affords
the only entrance-is the natural gateway
to Caracas, The capital.
La Guayra is a picturesque port. Ger
tainly, so far as its appearance goes,
it's contours and colors. curving shore
lire broken with red-roofed houses Of
stone and huts of adobe. with verdant
heights above. making It charming 10 tn
eve. But TO other senses than the sight
il does not fayorably appeal. for its
streets are narrow and dirty. its houses
cid and damp. many Of them reveling
in filth and squalor. undisguised by mas
sive walls and patios attractive with
plants and fountains. II is important
commercially. this steaming. rocking city
perched upon a narrow shelf cut out Of
the hill slopes stretching to the sea
and let that suffice. There are those
who are compelled to reside here. whether
they like il or no. and among them are
the consuls Of the various foreign govern
ments who. having accepted their po-
sitions must stick 20 their posts Ger
tain number OF hours each day OF legal
labor unless released by leave" or
driven out by the exigencies OF war u
va san American consul. who. having
endured The many discomforts attendant
upou life in La Guayra Tor several years,
finally unhurdened himself on the eve Of
departure for home. in the following lines
..Adios 10 thee. Ia Guayra-City of the
dark-eyed genie.
Land Of mueho caior and Of dolce f..
niente;
Home OF the wailing burro. and the all
Astounding fea;
Mana. gracias dos. bid adieu TO thee
Farewell. ye gloomy casas.-better cal
them prison cells:
Ye narrow. crooked Gales. rceking with
assorted smells
Ye dirty little coffee shops and filthy
puiquerias.
Offensive. diugy pstios and fetid oaherias-
Where beggars ride on horseback. Ike
Spanish cavaliers.
And vagabonds peranbulate Ike Jolly
gamboliers.
Where the lavsnderas wash your rcpA
when they feel inclined.
And hotel walters strut about with shirts
hung out behind
Goodbye. sc Latin sreasers, su at.nto
seryido-.
que vaya olen. pues adios Ny boa, IS
On the SHORE
o dirty people. dirty houses. despleabls
srot
Departing. 7 salute sou. IN your city pip
ing hot
It may. perhaps. be questioned. y the
G. 1sul perfectly abseTvesi the amenities
= diplomatic intercourse. n riding his
fiery Pegasus rouEA-shcd as !; ~s-a-
ovrr the feelings * The GulsTeos-ssss1ns-
Ing ths; they may have seen his poetry
But. in soo;h they think Ties no= have
cause 20 doubt the good fzi;h = Other
diplomats more recently But - TIA.
pass II order "a avoid al frsetsen 2
whatever sort this article shall - cor
6ned 70 deSrrihsag the pscsuTescue feat
.sres O, the Eene1ssla- see1e-z- ard ~ltz-
oct a. aIiusion 20 ~ recui.@-1fles o. -
venezssIsnos
BEST PART Or IA ctATgA
The bes, psrt of Ia SnzY-a. = - sx-
pr ssfoa RAY - aTiose-a parfs.inE - -
nature % buli HIS oatStfs - esfr.
r. ;hr suharaza 1osns = 1fnrate ard IA
.qussis. the latter place b,inr rhe nears-
o. the two. Naczta = aSorf sozr n1iies
distant. ard Is he larger place. zs:h
greater aftrzrtsczs ros~s<zrg god 49,
,~ls. surf bathing. fresh and k=sf zzse-
baths. Speaking 90 Acsels rszin:s ise