364 TlMEHKI. 



The President was grasping, the taxes were excessive, 

 and enterprise, like the railway, all up-hill work. A few 

 outside differences, to the merchants, did not matter 

 much, probably they cared less; and our god in the 

 gallery likely enough felt his country's wrong more 

 keenly than his betters. 



While describing the various sights of Caracas, the 

 Cathedral and other places of worship must not be over- 

 looked. They are generally crowded in the early 

 morning. The Venezuelans are Catholics, and hear 

 Mass and go to Confession. Their churches are kept in 

 good repair, the priests are charitable, and the poorer 

 classes have bread, as well as religion, doled out to them. 

 The private residences of the wealthy are well built, 

 adapted to suit the climate, and fashioned after the 

 Spanish style, with flat roofs and with rooms large and 

 airy ; a court-yard, generally well stocked with plants 

 and flowers, separates the bed-rooms from the day-rooms. 

 The Douche Baths, near the station, have become 

 quite an institution in the city. They are greatly in de- 

 mand by visitors, and the better class of residents, after the 

 early morning coffee — and such coffee ! The Venezuelans 

 must have taught themselves the art of producing the finest 

 results from the berry which is cultivated in the country, 

 and so justly famous in most parts of the world. 



The suburbs of Caracas are but few, and better seen 

 from a distance. Antimone is by far the prettiest. Here 

 the President has a country seat, the large gardens of 

 which were laid out under the supervision of Madame 

 GUZMAN BLANCO, who, with her two daughters, took the 

 greatest interest in all the surroundings of their retreat, 

 and were the means of making that retreat so charming. 



