A WOMAN'S EXPERIENCES IN VENEZUELA. 87 



came on board, introducing himself as Sefior Bernardo 

 Lugo y Escobar, — one of the officials of the Pitch Lake 

 Company, and explaining that Mr. Grell had written him 

 that we might possibly come to Guanoco and that we were 

 to be entertained at the headquarters for as long as wc chose 

 to stay. Mr. Lugo was most urgent in his hospitality and I 

 knew well of what the sloop dinner would consist. Afaestro 

 and I would hold a perfectly futile consultation in which wc 

 would decide upon the only possible menu — funche (which is 

 the Venezuelan name for cornmea' mush), dried pea soup and 

 cocoa. I must explain that the lack of variety in our larder 

 was due to the fact that we had expected to be able to supple- 

 ment our canned goods with fresh fish and game, both of 

 which proved difficult to obtain, the latter because of the 

 impossibility in this vast swamp of ever finding the game 

 after it was shot. The experience taught us the useful 

 lesson which every camper and explorer learns sooner or later, 

 sometimes alas! loo late — never to depend upon the game of 

 the country, but always to plan your provisions as if game did 

 not exist. Then when one gets it, it comes as an unexpected 

 luxury. 



But to return to my visions of a good dinner in the prepara- 

 tion of which I had no part or responsibility. Perhaps there 

 would also be the luxury of a real bath. I was roused from 

 these attractive reflections by the voice of the Captain politely 

 refusing Mr. Lugo's invitation for the night, and saying that 

 we would not go ashore until the next day. Whereupon 

 I diplomatically remarked in English, — that Mr. Lugo 

 might not understand, — that I thought J\fr. Lugo's feelings 

 would be hurt if we refused, and as long as we were to go the 

 next day and there was nothing to be gained by spendmg 

 the night on the sloop, why not gratify him by going at once. 



And so it came about that in a few minutes more we were at 

 "Headquarters. " As the house was quite invisible from the 



