A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCES IN' VENEZUELA. 95 



forth, are dozens of grave-like holes. Those nearer the rail- 

 road end are smooth-edged and filled with soft pitch on which 

 as yet no vegetation has taken root. Farther along they are 

 filled with water, and still farther we find them in the process 

 of being excavated. 



FIG. 50. MANGROVE WILDERNESS FROM THE HIGH L.\xn AT Or. \\oco. 



The men dig down until they have reached a depth of five 

 or six feet, and then start in a new place. The hole is filled 

 by the first rain; water-bugs fly to the little pool, frogs 

 lay their eggs in it, queer fish wriggle their way to it and 

 for a brief space it supports a considerable aquatic life. 

 Then new soft pitch begins to ooze up and in a few more 

 weeks the plug of viscid black gum has reached the level of 

 the ground and the scar is soon healed over by a thin growth 

 of grass. 



In the rainy season the holes fill at once with water, 

 and indeed the whole plain is immersed to the depth of 



