108 SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



displaced the Otomacos about the Arauca confluence ; the Piaroas of the cataracts, 

 and others. 



Broadly speaking, the Indians dwelling north and west of the Orinoco are 

 peaceful agriculturists, while those within the great bend of the river are still 

 in the savage state. Amongst the latter are met the piaches, or wizards, who, 

 like the medicine-men of the redskins, heal or bewitch with music and spells. 



The white population, mainly confined to the seaboard, are all mestizoes, with 

 the exception of a few scattered groups such as the Spaniards of La Grita, on the 

 north slope of the Merida range. Although the Basque language has long ceased 

 to be spoken, many of the Europeans are really of Basque descent. La Guaira, 

 Puerto Cabello, and Cdlabozo were founded by Basques, who also colonised the 

 rich Aragua valley, the most flourishing region in the republic. 



The Spaniards appear to be acclimatised even in the hot zone, while other 

 Europeans and North Americans live in thousands at Caracas and other upland 

 towns of the Andes without suffering from the climate. But the llanos, and 

 especially the marshy districts, are subject to epidemics, some of which attack 

 the very fish, the crocodiles, and domestic animals. Horned cattle generally 

 escape, but in 1843 the pest swept away from 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 horses, asses, 

 and mules. This plague, which is always fatal, appears to be a spinal affection 

 caused by parasitic animals. 



The immigration of non -Iberian whites has acquired importance only during 

 the present century. But negro slaves had long been introduced to work on the 

 plantations. At the time of Humboldt's visit they numbered 62,000 ; but they 

 were reduced to 50,000 by the wars, epidemics, and earthquakes by the year 

 1830, when the traflic was abolished. Most of the freed men have mingled with 

 the other elements of the population, so that at present there are but few pure 

 negroes in Venezuela. The type is best represented in La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, 

 and the other coast towns. 



Several hundred white immigrants arrive annually, chiefly from the Canaries, 

 France, Italy and Germany, ^he^ejorungos, as they are called, generally avoid 

 the land, and adopt some trade or profession in the towns. Their influence is, 

 nevertheless, considerable, and but for them public works would be even in a more 

 backward slate than is the case. They have directed the mining operations, 

 the erection of public buildings, the harbour works, the construction of roads and 

 railways. They thus act indirectly on the land itself, which with the opening 

 of communications is daily brought more under cultivation, at least in the vicinity 

 of the centres of urban population. 



lY. 



Topography. 



Venezuela has no seaport on the Gulf of Paria even remotely comparable to 

 Port of Spain in the neighbouring British colony of Trinidad. The only con- 

 venient harbour occurs, not on the gulf, but on the Rio Guavapiche (Cano 

 Colorado) about 30 miles below JUaturiii, the chief market for the produce of all 



