OF T1MBEB. 141 



fche importance of the commerce of that rich country. 

 Even under the thraldom of the colonial system, the value 

 cf the exported products of agriculture, and of the gold- 

 washings, amount to eleven or twelve millions of piastres 

 in the countries at present united under the denomination 

 of the Eepublic of Columbia. The exports of the Capi- 

 ta niu- General of Caracas alone, exclusive of the precious 

 metals, which are the objects of regular working, was (with 

 the contraband), from five to six millions of piastres, at the 

 beginning of the nineteenth century. Cumana, Barcelona, 

 La Guayro, Porto Cabello, and Maracaybo, are the most 

 important parts of the coast ; those that lie most eastward 

 have the advantage of an easier communication with the 

 Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Vincent. 

 Angostura, the real name of which is Santo Tome de Nueva 

 (iuiana, may be considered as the port of the rich province 

 I 1 Varinas. The majestic river, on whose banks this town 

 is built, affords by its communications with the Apure, the 

 ;i, and the Bio Negro, the greatest advantages for trade 

 with Europe. 



The shores of Venezuela, from the beauty of their ports, 

 the tranquillity of the sea by which they are washed, and 

 the fine timber that covers them, possess great advantages 

 over the shores of the United States. In no part of the 

 world do we find firmer anchorage, or better positions for 

 the establishment of ports. The sea of this coast is con- 

 stantly calm, like that which extends from Lima to Guayaquil. 

 The storms and hurricanes of the West Indies are never 

 felt on the Costa Pirme; and when, after the sun has 

 passed the meridian, thick clouds charged with electricity, 

 accumulate on the mountains of the coasts, a pilot accus- 

 tomed to these latitudes knows that this threatening aspect 

 of the sky denotes only a squall. The virgin-forests neap 

 the sea, in the eastern part of New Andalusia, present 

 valuable resources for the establishment of dockyards. Tim 

 wood of the mountains of Paria may vie with 'that oi the 

 island of Cuba, Huasacualco, Guayaquil, and San Bias. 

 The Spanish Government, at the close of the last century, 

 fixt 'i I its attention on this important object. Marine engi- 

 neers were sent to mark the finest trunks of Brazil-wood, 

 mahogany, cedrela, and laurinea, between Angostura and 



