ry is only a
little more than that of the state of Iowa.

Back only six or eight miles, in a direct line, from La Guaira and the
blue waters of the Caribbean sea, high up in the mountains is a great
valley in which is located the capital city of Venezuela. This city,
Caracas, is about as large as Sioux City, Iowa, but to get to it is some
job. It is only about twenty-five miles by rail and this railroad was
about as difficult to build as any of our mountain railroads. The tracks
cling to the mountain sides almost like vines cling to brick walls, and
the curves are so short that one riding in the end coach can nearly
reach the engineer. One can look hundreds of feet into caverns and
gorges that seem almost like the bottomless pit.

Venezuela got its name from Venice, Italy, in the following way. One of
the earliest explorers sailing along the coast saw the Indian villages
built on piles in the water along the shore and was reminded of the
Italian city and called the country Venezuela, which means "little
Venice."

Here lived Las Casas, a priest who was the Indian's greatest champion in
the early days and who is said to be the father of African Slavery in
the new world. It was he who suggested that negroes be imported to labor
in the fields and mines that the Indians might have an easier time.
Brought from Africa to work that the Indians might rest, these black
people became the slaves of all.

Venezuela was the birthplace of the great Simon Bolivar and other
patriots who were fired with enthusiasm against Spanish oppression and
literally gave their lives that the colonies might be free. Even the
coins of the old days were stamped with Bolivar's name and everywhere he
is revered as the George Washington of that country.

In one of the large museums is a room in which are kept the great
liberator's clothing, saddle, boots and spears and these things are as
sacred to them as the Ark of the Covenant was to the Jews. In this same
room is a portrait of Washington upon which is the inscription: "This
picture of the liberator of North America is sent by his adopted son to
him who acquired equal glory in South America."

Through this country runs one of the world's greatest rivers, the
Orinoco, which with its tributaries furnishes more than four thousand
miles of navigable rivers. This great river system drains a territory of
three hundred and sixty thousand square miles.

It is rather strange that in this country with lo