DEPARTURE FROM CI UD AD-BOLIVAR 91 



juices causing putrefaction. In the Argentine, where 

 tasajo ^ is prepared in an intelligent manner, it remains 

 wholesome and palatable for several months, whereas the 

 Venezuelan article at the end of a few weeks is offen- 

 sive in smell and disgusting in appearance. Yet it is 

 impossible to obtain any other kind of prepared beef in 

 Venezuela, as the importation of salted meats is pro- 

 hibited so that the native industry may be protected and 

 flourish. 



The ' Caura,' the steamer which was to take our party 

 up as far as Temblador, had to undergo some repairs 

 before she would be in a condition to undertake the trip,. 

 so that our departure was definitely fixed for December 6. 

 I had purchased one large bongo or dug-out at Trinidad. 

 I required four others, but succeeded in getting only two 

 at Ciudad-Bolivar, as a large number of these boats had 

 been taken from their owners by the contending parties 

 during Castro's revolution, and had either been carried 

 away or destroyed. The two smaller bongos were placed 

 crosswise on the lower deck of the ' Caura,' with their ends 

 projecting over the water ; the larger ones were lashed to 

 her sides, this being the most convenient way of towing 

 them. On the 5th (December) our effects were sent on 

 board. After I had seen that everything was in order 

 I returned to the hotel. On this last night of our stay 

 at Ciudad-Bolivar we slept on beds with sheets and 

 pillows, luxuries we would not be able to obtain on the 

 journey which lay before us. 



At dawn we hurried down to the spot where the 



' Caura ' was moored. For a wonder we found that steam 



was up and the captain ready to start, so that no time was 



lost in getting under way. We were soon out of ' The 



' Salted beef, preserved and dried. 



