T Introduction HE following pages contain a brief account of the Author's personal experiences, observations, and studies in Central and South America, and more particularly in the republics of Colombia and Venezuela, during the period of twenty-seven years, from 1872 to 1899. During the greater part of that time, his official and professional relations with the Governments and peoples of those countries afforded him exceptional opportunities for studying their early history and civilization, their constitutions of government, their present political and social conditions, their great natural resources, and their future commercial possibilities. The comparatively little hitherto known of those beautiful and interesting countries, especially in the United States, and the general awakening to their commercial importance and the consequent desire for some authentic and reliable information concerning them, have induced the Author to publish these Notes, in the hope of stimulating further inquiry, and of inducing closer relations between the Latin and Anglo-Saxon races of the two Americas. The descriptive chapters were written on or near the exact spots described, and have been carefully revised, from time to time, as those localities have been re M313650 visited, or as they have undergone material changes, during the past quarter of a century; the aim being accuracy of statement, rather than to satisfy any popular demand for the marvellous and improbable. The chapters relating to the various inter-oceanic canal projects, to the Mosquito Coast controversy, to the principles of the Monroe Doctrine, to the race problem in the Americas, to Democracy in Latin America, to South American "revolutions," to the rights and duties of foreign residents therein, to social and religious customs, to the Anglo-Venezuelan boun→ dary dispute in Guayana, to the final award of the arbitration tribunal in that dispute, and to other kindred topics, are deemed essential to a clear understanding of the present political conditions of those countries, and of their relations to each other and to the United States. Contents origin - Tropical rain-storms Topography and cli- PAGE General Símon Bolívar's scheme for interesting foreign capi- tal- Origin of the De Lesseps' scheme - Its relation to the United States — Joint guarantee of the neutrality of the isthmian transit - Why it was rejected by England and France-The conditions under which the United The City of Carthagena Ancient traditions American commerce in the 17th century The Old "Dique," or Magdalena Canal — Savanilla and Barran- 26 Topography and climate Relics of a past civilization Gorgeous tropical scenery - - Traditions and peculiarities Some odd experiences — Sudden changes of temperature — Grandeur of the mountain scenery — Mt. Tolima - The First impressions - Why strangers usually like it — Its geo- graphical position - Traditions- Historic landmarks Slavery in the Spanish-American Colonies Era of negro importation Race mixtures Effects on social and Conditions which made the successful revolt of 1810 possible - Their treatment in South America - Abuses of United States - - |