Here is one place in which you would not like to live. This is one of the principal streets in La Guira, the chief seaport of Venezuela. The city is built on a narrow fringe of lowland on the coast. Behind it rises a mountain wall which shuts out the wind. The tropical sun beats down on the little city with such force that the temperature of the place is almost unbearable. The nights are scarcely better than the days. At night it rains. With the heat and the moisture, few Americans or Europeans can live here. The streets are narrow and dirty, and there is a great deal of sickness. If you were to visit this city you would wonder how it could be the chief seaport of a country as large as Venezuela. It has no natural harbor, but there has been built a sea wall which partially protects the shipping from hurricanes.

The building of a city here is largely due to an accident. To the west of it lies another city, called Caravelleda. One of the Spanish rulers of Caravalleda was so severe in his government of the city, that the people left and founded La Guira. Caravalleda rapidly declined in size and in importance, in spite of the poor location of the new city. The scene suggests in many ways the hotness of the climate. It would be next to impossible to deliver milk in cans or in bottles in La Guira. The temperature would soon cause the milk to sour. Besides the industries of the city are not organized. Milkmen drive their cows up and down the streets, inquiring at each door how much milk is wanted. The cows are halted, and the proper amount of milk is delivered fresh from the cows.