New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01

unguided in this matter as in others They are
never punished by their elders, and Nj. Andre
suggests that this may be the reason why the
fun grown Indian is impatient Of any sort Of
control.
The traveller is dubious as to the trade pros
poets Of tho e regions which he truly calls The
Land Of Strife" There is territory on the
Nichare prepared to yield rich supply of rub
Der from trees heretofore untouched, but, diff
cult Of access and without population as it is it
would have to be worked from settlements
practically self-supporting. The political condi-
lions are not favorable to the establishment Of
such a scheme. In discussing this question he
describes the South American mode of treat
ing the rubber after the milky stream flows
from the tree. 1t must be smoked in order to
produce the ordinary raw rubber of commerce:
Certain nuts. especially the seeds Of a kind Of
PAIN >+ are preferred LOT smoking. but when such
NUS are not obtainable: branches and twigs are
used. The .seringuero' having prepared his fire
ops paddle shaped piece Of wood into his vessel
to the blade Of the wood. which he holds over the
smoke for few moments. turning it and
round in order to expose every part Of the surface
first coat to have been smoked Sufficiently he again
dips the paddle into the milk, obtaining sec
Of the Size desired IS o Ie I ss5 OF r [G0De5g
from the paddle shaped instrument by cutting it
et @'a et sTR kHlIe ana IN TINS form II Is
hung up IN the shade. under the branches OF trees
The preparation Of balata gum IS an lmpor-
tant industry. which the gum collectors are
doing their best to destroy. Instead OF draw
ing the sap and leaving the trunk to recover.
they throw down and score the trees. giants
which have been growing for hundreds Of years.
In ten or fifteen years. says Mr.. Andre, there
viii not be, It is to be feared, a single baIata
tree in the districts where gum is being OBJ
tanned by the destructive system in vogue
among the collectors"
Are the Venezuelan towns heaIthfuI enough 10
invite the inspection Of the traveller? We
gather from Mr.. Andres pages the impression
that preconceived theories as to the deadliness
OF swamps must go by the board. Some towns
IN the neighborhoOd OF the many swamps are the
seats OF maIariaI disease; some are not-Ciudad
Bolivar for example Is built the edge of
swamp. and the poorer people throw all refuse
into that convenient water close TO their doors.
yet CIudad Bolivar Is not at all unhealthfuL
There Is a good deal OF Ieprosy in Venezuela,
and this Is attributed by the people TO their
almost unchanging diet OF pork and fish. The
author Is surprised that the people in the in
terror neglect particularly nice article OF food
which Is abundant IN the forest and is popu-
lar IN ether places. especially Trinidad. This is
the paIm-grub, which Is Matched out in the pith
Of the palm tree the pith being at once its bed
and its food They are removed" Mr.. Andre
tells US, and placed In vessels with water.
where they VIII live for q couple OF days. They
are prepared by being fried or roasted on
skewer." he indnates that people who like
high game and sportive cheese need not turn
up their noses at this delicacy.
We VIII not quote from the authors account
Of his thrilling adventures in the last disastrous
expedition up the riyer-it should be read IN its
entirety. The halftone Illustrations Of the book.
including quaint portraits of Indians and pict-
ures OF their domestic life. are excellent ac-
compartments to the spirited text