28 Travels and Adventures 



coolness in spite of a sun sometimes more than op- 

 pressive. The Presidential residence and Govern- 

 ment offices are buildings of excellent design and 

 substantial construction. One side of the plaza is 

 taken up by a large college for high-class scientific 

 education— an institution which is a real ornament to 

 the situation. It is a pity that Venezuela does not 

 possess more such. 



Fine larofe magasins and stores, several excellent 

 hotels, restaurants a la franqaise, and so much con- 

 venience for business and pleasure are to be found 

 in the pleasant little Venezuelan capital, that if there 

 should be a European who still entertains the idea 

 that there is no society to be found in South America 

 but wild Indians, he will do well to pass a week at 

 Caracas to improve his education. For my own part, 

 the thought that the Phantom was perhaps already 

 under weigh made it impossible for me to get more 

 than a glimpse of the town, hastily swallow a cup of 

 the celebrated Caracas coffee, and take a return ticket 

 for La Guayra. I would have willingly stayed to 

 collect the lovely Cattleya Mossier, which is found in 

 plenty growing on the branches of trees in nearly 

 all the mountains around Caracas, and is now to be 

 had with the greatest ease, for the Indians bring large 

 quantities of plants into the city for sale at a very 

 nominal price, instead of the poor plant-collector having 



