of Venezuela in the St. Louis Exposition was
authorized in the month of October, 1903, immediately after the end of
one of the most sanguinary civil wars known in the history of the
country. The following-named gentlemen were appointed as commissioners
of the Venezuela Government: Gen. Cipriano Castro, honorary president;
Eugenio M. Ambard, commissioner-general; Dr. H. Lameda, attache; H.
Meinhard, secretary.

The amount of the Government appropriation was at first $25,000, but
this amount was soon exhausted and smaller amounts were subsequently
sanctioned for the maintenance, transportation, and installation of
exhibits. The total amount of appropriation was $30,000. There was
absolutely no private contribution in cash. The approximate value of the
exhibits was about $105,000.

Some of the most interesting features of the exhibition were:

First. A collection of over 200 varieties of fibers prepared under
different processes and taken from different altitudes. Nearly all were
prepared by a machine invented by Dr. J. Lameda, who collected and took
the greatest interest in the fiber exhibit. From the coarsest to the
finest were to be found among these fibers. The longest was of the musa
variety, a coarse fiber which grows to the length of 10 feet. The
_Annanassa sativa_, a fine fiber, grows to the length of 5 feet. This
was the only collection of the kind at the exposition or which has ever
been shown at any other exposition.

Second. The magnificent collection of hard woods from the Government
States of Carabobo, Zulia, and Guayana, each comprising over 600
specimens of native logs, woods for cabinetwork, for building
construction, lumber, staves, dyewoods, tanning, resinous, oil, rubber,
and fragrant woods.

Third. A most unique and complete collection of forest plants, roots,
herbs, leaves, barks, seeds, fruits, resins, gums, and dyeing and
flavoring materials used by herbalists and pharmacists. These were
collected, prepared, and classified by E.M. Ambard.

Fourth. A complete collection of all the minerals and precious stones
(uncut) found in South America, prepared, collected, classified, and
catalogued by Dr. Louis Plazard, who devoted nearly all his life to this
work.

Fifth. A collection of cocoa beans from different regions, which is
considered to be one of the best and most nutritious cocoas in the
world, and has always obtained a far higher price than any other cocoa;
also a collection of coffee from