Margarita. 63 



One is here strongly reminded of South Africa ; the same 

 stunted bushes with scanty grass between, and pools 

 of water here and there, fat cattle everywhere, sheep 

 goats and pigs grazing together and making up with the 

 young shoots of the bushes for any shortcomings in 

 respe6l to the grass. The bushes were mostly thorny 

 with a great deal of divi-divi and other Caesalpinias. It 

 is rather puzzling to make out how it pays to pick divi- 

 divi pods, weighing so light as they do, and selling only 

 at about ;^5 a ton. It is done here by the children ; how 

 would the interesting little ones at our village schools take 

 to this industry ? When in Carupano I noticed a barque 

 lying there which had been chartered to take 100 tons of 

 divi-divi and 200 tons lignum vitae, from Pampotar. 

 The most interesting feature in my ride was certainly 

 the marvellous colle6lion of birds, of every variety and of 

 the gayest plumage— I never saw so many together out 

 of an aviary. Tropials, humming birds and some in full 

 song — the " rossignol" pointed out to me, is probably a 

 troglodyte, but appeared larger than the " oiseau de bon 

 dieu'' of Trinidad, the song is most melodious and com- 

 prises many different notes, but not equal of course to 

 that of the nightingale of Europe; 



All along the road we met men and women, probably 

 leturning from church, the men well-favoured enough, 

 but the women with a look of inexpressible sadness and 

 premature old age, and wearing ugly cotton handker- 

 chiefs tied under their chins, which added to their mean 

 appearance. If however but little can be said of their 

 personal attra6lions, their industry is beyond all praise. 

 They may be seen going to market driving heavy-laden 

 donkeys before them, with loads upon theirown heads, and 



