The number of fruit-trees is great, but the cultivation is little attended to. Besides the vine, which succeeds well in some of the higher valleys, the fig, pomegranate, orange, lime, and lemon have been transplanted from Europe. Some of the indigenous trees bear excellent fruits, among which the most remarkable are the Laurus Persea, Annona squamosa, A. Humboldtiana, Sapota maamosa, the pine-apple, and the tamarind.
The domestic animals constitute one of the principal branches of the wealth of Venezuela. The large plains supply pasture for cattle, horses, mules, and asses, and the number of these animals is very great. It is also considerable in the other districts, as the greater part of the country is uncultivated. Sheep and goats are also generally kept, but are only numerous in the mountains of Nirgua and the hilly tract which lies north of them. Pigs abound in the valleys of the mountain ranges and the countries contiguous to them.
Wild animals are numerous ; among them are the jaguar (called in the country the tiger), the puma, the ounce (which is found in the forests of the Sierra de Nirgua), the tiger-cat, the tapir, the capybara, the venndo (a kind of deer), the nguti, porcupine, rabbit, several kinds of wild hogs, the sloth, the ant-eater, and several varieties of monkeys and apes. Two kinds of whales, the physeter and narwhal, are fre quently met with along the northern coast; and in the large rivers are the manati and the tonina, a kind of dolphin, which attains a length of 9 or 10 feet. The birds are numerous, especially those belonging to the Falconidce, Ardeida, Stcigidcc, Turdidte, Tanagridce, Picithe, and Peittacidce ; among the last-mentioned the loris are distingnished by the beauty of their plumage. There are also pelicans, wild geese and ducks, and flamingoes.
Fish are abundant in the sea, the rivers, and lakes and lagoons. The greatest fishery is carried on in the strait which divides the peninsula of Araya from the island of Margarita, round the island of Ceche, where a great quantity of a fish called ilea is taken, salted, and exported to all the ports of the republic and the West Indies. The salted and dried eggs of the fish are also a considerable article of commerce. Turtle are found in the sea, and manteca made from their eggs is an important article of commerce. Manteca is also made from the fat of the manati. The alligator abounds in the Orinoco, Apnro, and Portugesa, and is also found in several other rivers. The iguana is eaten, and considered a dainty. The chameleon is common in some parts. There are boa-constrictors and several venomous snakes. The pipe abounds in the Parime Mountains. Pearl-oysters were very abundant soon after the discovery of America in the strait between the peninsula of Araya and the island of Margarita, and a very advantageous fishery was carried on for several years. In the hilly tract between the Golfo Triste and the lake the cochineal insect is fonnd, but is not turned to any account.
Venezuela is not rich in minerals. Gold is found in several places, and has been worked, but not to much purpose. Silver-, tin-, and copper-ore are also met with, but only the last is profitably worked.
Iron- and lead-ore occur, but are not worked. Coal is found at some places in the coast-range. A kind of natrou is extracted from a small lake on the southern declivity of the Andes, in the province of Merida, and is mixed with tobacco. At several places petroleum occurs, especially in the peninsula of Araya. Salt is produced to a great amount in the salt-works of the peninsulas of Araya and I'araguana, and in the Gulf of Maracaibo.
Manufactures and Commerce.—The few manufactures of this country are carried on in the Sierra Nirgua and on the declivities of the Andes, at Tocuyo, Barquishnento, Trujillo, and Merida, when) straw-hats, hammock.), coarse cotton-cloth, some worsted stuffs, and earthenware are made. The tanneries are rather numerous, and nearly all the articles of leather which are consumed in the country are made within it, and constitute one of the most important branches of internal commerce.
The commerce of Venezuela diminished greatly during tho War of Independence, cultivation having been much neglected during that period; but though the state of society has been unsettled ever since the termination of the war, the trade has recovered, though very different of course to what it might be were the country in the hands of a peaceful and industrious people. The total value of the exports do not average much over a million and a quarter sterling, and the imports are little over a million. More than half the entire amount of both the export and import trades is with the United States and Great Britain. The exports to the United States in 1853 amounted to 2,613,780 dollars ; the imports were 844,527 dollars. The imports from Great Britain in 1853 were 248,190/.; in 1854 they amounted to 300,899/. The countries with which the trade of Venezuela is next largest in amount are, Denmark, Germany, France, Holland, and Spain. The exports are chiefly cacao, coffee, indigo, cotton, sugar, tobacco, vanilla, sarsaparilla and dye-woods, copper-ore, horses, mules, cattle, jerked beef, hides, horns, &c.
Inbabitants.—The inhabitants consist of Indian aborigines, of Spaniards and .Africann who have settled among them, and of the offspring which has resulted from the mixture of these three nations. The unmixed aboriginal Indians 'are distinguished by a large head, narrow forehead, lank and long black hair, eyes of middling size, sharp nose, wide mouth, thick lips, and broad face. They are generally Dirisions, 714071l, &C.—Venezuela is divided into 5 departments Maturin, Venezuela or Cardcas, Tulle, Apnro, end Orinoco. These are subdivided into 13 provinces, 88 cantons, and 523 parishes.
The capital of the republio is CanAces. The following are some of the other more important towns : the populations are merely vague estimates :— Axnowrraa.
Asuncion, the capital of the province Margarita, stands in a narrow valley on the east side of the Island of Margarita. It has about 3500 inhabitants, and carries on some trade in coffee, palm-oil, and the other products of the island.