MAIN-LAND COMMERCE. 281 



1855, has been published by order of the governor, and from it 

 we extract the following items : 



Dollars. 



Plantains 7,284,700 11,121 



Cattle 2,875 head 13,907 



Mules, Horses, Asses 400 head 8,903 



Hogs, Sheep, Goats, and Poultry .... 2,960 

 Dried and Salted Fish, Hog, and Goat, > 



Tasajo, and Cheese ... J d > y ' 



Starch, Corn, and Peas 2,316 



43,177 



Our main-land commerce is chiefly with Maturin and Guiria, 

 within the Gulf; with Ciudad de Bolivar and Barrancas, on the 

 Orinoco ; and the island of Margarita. This trade might be im- 

 proved, and greatly augmented by the establishment of steam 

 communication, and the adoption of a more liberal tariff, on the 

 part of the Venezuelan Government. 



By seeking to establish a comparison between imports and ex- 

 ports, from and to different countries, we are led to the following 

 conclusions : 



GREAT BRITAIN AVERAGE OF Two YEARS. 



Imports . 254,981 | Exports . . 420,753 



Difference Favour exports .... 165,772 



BRITISH COLONIES. 



Imports . . 82,573 | Exports . . 1,878 

 Difference Favour imports . . . 80,695 



UNITED STATES. 



Imports . . 98,899 | Exports . . 2,601 

 Difference Favour imports .... 96,298 



FOREIGN STATES. 



Imports . . 62,372 | Exports . . 25,641 



Difference Favour imports .... 36,731 



Thus, the only country to which we transmit more than we 

 receive, is Great Britain ; as to our other commercial connections, 

 taken collectively, the foregoing comparison shows that we really 

 disburse in their favour, and that, in hard cash, a yearly average, 

 (more or less) of 213,724. Our trade with the United King- 

 dom would certainly seem to be the most advantageous, since the 

 colony apparently receives, as annual remittances, the sum of 



