Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . l almostin a state of nature when compared with my shortly arrived at the bifurcation of the Rio dela Guayra, where the two small streams of San Pedroand Macaras unite and form by their confluence theriver of La Guayra. The slightly civilized aspectwhich the country had hitherto borne gave placehere to a wildness which pleased me greatly. It isto me always a source of pleasure to arrive at theconfines of civilization; to look forward into therealms of unsubdued nature, where the thousandannoyances that spring
Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . l almostin a state of nature when compared with my shortly arrived at the bifurcation of the Rio dela Guayra, where the two small streams of San Pedroand Macaras unite and form by their confluence theriver of La Guayra. The slightly civilized aspectwhich the country had hitherto borne gave placehere to a wildness which pleased me greatly. It isto me always a source of pleasure to arrive at theconfines of civilization; to look forward into therealms of unsubdued nature, where the thousandannoyances that spring from contact with our fellowsare unknown, and where, in this self-sufficient nine-teenth century, there may still be found places inthe same state as on the morning when first the lightof heaven shone on the young world fresh from thehands of its-Creator. That this wildness, however, was more apparentthan real was evident from the numbers of nativeswho met us, driving long troops of ox \ or in chargeof mules laden with the produce of the coffee and Ill,.11-I,I ^^i\ 7,, ?. MULE-DRIVERS OF THE RIO DE LA GUAYRA. Page 58. THE VILLAGE OF SAN PEDRO. 61 sugar plantations. The vegetation was striking, andI gazed with delight at the arborescent ferns nearlythirty feet in height; the heliconias, plumerias,enormous higueras or tig-trees, rivalling that whichhad elicited my admiration during my first ride fromLa Guayra; at the graceful palms with featheryfoliage bending forward so as to interrupt the fiercerays of the sun; and the browneas, a perfect pyramidof flowers, like a pile of purple rhododendrons, sixtyfeet in height. This gorgeous plant produces a worldof blossom—often as many as four or five hundredflowers in a single thyrsus. After a ride during which I received impressionsthat will never be efiaced, although I have sincefeasted almost to satiety on the beauties of tropicalnature, we arrived at the village of San Pedro, whichseems to have been purposely placed at the inter-se
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