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While with me here you pass your hours, 

 Should you grow faded with my cares, 

 I'll bride you with refreshing showers ; 

 You shall be watered with my tears, 

 Distant, though present in idea, 

 I mourn my absent Dulcinea del Toboso." 

 Reaching the summit of the Sierra there was an end to 

 poetic reveries^ as the fresh breeze from the Atlantic 

 braced up one's nerves, and the beautiful view of the 

 northern part of the island opened out. Plains, ranchos, 

 cattle, canes, cocoanuts and fruit trees, and generally 

 more verdure than on the southern part of the country. 

 On through a considerable village called Tacarigua, the 

 houses all of the same size and shape, tapia and red tiled, 

 each family owning their little cultivation in the moun- 

 tains—poor perhaps, but independent and mostly with 

 something put by in a stocking. Two or three distilleries 

 were also here but no rum shops or evidence of drinking as 

 in every agricultural village in the West Indies. Land 

 grabbers don't setm to thrive in this country, although 

 money is worth 40 or 50 per cent ! The Venezuelan laws 

 don't favour such gentry. In this rather monoto- 

 nous and socialistic village there is an excellent school 

 (Escuela Federal No. 46). There are no priestly bicker- 

 ings about assisted schools etc., as the Government 

 wisely manages everything on one uniform plan. Edu- 

 cation is free and compulsory, nor does it seem 

 to make young Venezuela less religious, but then, of 

 course, they are all of one faith. It is curious to pass 

 through towns and villages, everywhere in this country, 

 and not to see loafers and beggars, so common in Trini- 

 dad — perhaps the revolutions clear away this scum of the 

 earth ? If so, oh for a few revolutions at home. On we 



