VENEZUELA. This republic of South America is rich in vegetable produce. The articles of cultivation which are grown for exportation are cotton, indigo, cacao, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and cocoa-nuts. Indigo, which was once the most important object of cultivation, is much neglected, and cotten„ coffee, and sugar have taken its place ; but indigo is still grown in some places within the coast-range. The cocoa-palm is met with to the height of 700 feet, and yields valuable articles of export. The tobacco is of the best quality, and includes the well-known Varinas. Maize is extensively cultivated all over the country, but wheat only in the more elevated tracts. Rice is grown in a few places in the lower tracts, and barley only on the declivity of the Andes. Millet is also an object of cul tivation.
Venezuela is not rich in minerals. Gold is found in several places, and a valuable mine has recently been discovered in the mountains south of the Orinoco. Silver, tin, copper,
iron, and lead occur ; but only the copper ore is worked profitably. Coal, natron, salt, and petroleum are found in different places.
The few manufactures of this country are in the Sierra Nirgua and on the declivities of the Andes, at Tocuyo, Barquicimeto, Trujillo, and Merida, where straw hats, hammocks, coarse cotton cloth, some worsted stuffs, and earthen ware, are made. The commerce of Venezuela diminished greatly during the war of inde pendence,' but it has since recovered. Cus tom duties are laid on the importation of hard ware, cottons, woollens, silks, linens, and about forty miscellaneous articles. The income and the expenditure of the republic for 1846 were each about 2,000,000 dollars.
The British produce and manufactures ex ported to Venezuela in 1849 amounted in value to 50,0661.