Caracas as a Place of Resort. 363 



" Keep up, hombre, don't be afraid, treat him like you 

 would an Englishman !" This caused considerable mirth ; 

 and I was anxious to see if the suggestion of the gods' 

 representative would be carried out, and how. I was 

 not long kept in a state of uncertainty. The Matador 

 regained strength and courage, and the bull received 

 what was supposed to be his death blow, a huge stab in 

 the neck, really a stab given in the dark. The animal fell 

 exhausted, and the hero of the day ran out of the arena. 



GUZMAN BLANCO in a decree prohibited the bulls being 

 killed in the fight, they are only to be stunned, and 

 afterwards slaughtered in the usual manner. I suppose 

 it was meant as an a6l of mercy. 



The English, at the time of which I write, 1886, were 

 in the height of disfavour with the Venezuelans. The 

 vexed question of " Boundary" between Venezuela and 

 British Guiana had again come to the front. There were 

 also matters of a grave nature between Trinidad and 

 Venezuela, the former, or the Government at home, 

 demanding an indemnity for injustice done to subjects 

 and their property. Three British Men-of-\Var, the 

 Comics, Emerald, and Lily, were at anchor in La Guayra 

 roadstead ready to enforce these demands, either by 

 seizing the Custom House, or bombarding the town, and, 

 rumour had it, if necessary, throw a shell into Caracas. 

 Diplomatic relations with England had ceased, and the 

 British Minister safe on board the Comns. These were 

 disquieting times for English visitors to Caracas ; never- 

 theless, one heard little of these disputes talked over in 

 society. The majority of the merchants had sufficient 

 trouble of their own near at hand to concern them and 

 their prosperity. 



ZZ 2 



