East of Colombia is the only other Republic on the north coast of South America, Venezuela.
Area. Next to Colombia in position, Venezuela is also next in size. Sixth of the South American Republics in area, her territory covers about 394,000 square miles, equal to that of California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Population. With approximately 3,000,000 inhabitants, Venezuela is entitled to the same rank in population, for though Chile with smaller area surpasses her in this respect, Bolivia with greater extent of territory probably has fewer inhabitants. As neither country has accurate statistics to consult there is some uncertainty about the matter.
Boundary. Venezuela is irregular in outline, but in general her boundary is as follows. The Caribbean Sea is on the north, the Atlantic northeast, British Guiana east; also a part of Brazil is east of a southern projection of Venezuela; Brazil is on the south, with Colombia also south of a western projection; Colombia alone is on the west.
The land of Venezuela was sighted by Columbus in 1498; in 1499 it was explored to some extent by Alonzo de Ojeda, who gave the country its name (Little Venice), the Indian dwellings on piles in Lake Maracaibo reminding him of the famous Italian city. Settlements were made early in the 16th century, the first especially for the sake of the rich pearl fisheries. On account of the bad faith and cruelty of the Spaniards and the warlike spirit of the natives, many disorders and atrocities occurred, accompanied by quarrels among the Spaniards themselves.
In 1810 the citizens of Caracas deposed the Governor; the following year independence was declared, but it was not secured until the Royalists were defeated in the battle of Boyacá in 1819. The Great Colombian Republic was then formed by General Bolívar, though the last royalist adherents did not give up until 1823. Venezuela withdrew from the Union in 1830; the hero and patriot Bolívar died the same year. Many internal difficulties and changes of government have characterized the period of independence, though comparative quiet has succeeded the exit of Castro in 1909.
In contrast with Colombia, the Republic is a federal and not a centralized union. It has the usual three branches: a President with his Cabinet forms the Executive Department; there are two Houses of Congress; also a Supreme Court.
The twenty States have each a President and a Legislature, a Supreme and other Courts. The two Territories and the Federal District are administered by Governors appointed by the President, who is elected for seven years.
The names of the States and of their capitals follow, with their populations estimated, as until recently no census had been taken since 1897. The new figures (December, 1921) are received only for the Territories. The Coastal States beginning at the northwest are Zulia, Falcón, Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, the Federal District, Miranda, Anzoátegui, Sucre, Monagas. Anzoátegui and Monagas are also Llano States, with Guárico, Cojedes, Portuguesa, Zamora, and Apure. Táchira, Mérida, and Trujillo are Mountain States; Lara, north of Trujillo, almost comes into the coast region. Nueva Esparta is an Island State. Bolívar, south of the Orinoco, lies between the two Territories, Delta Amacuro and Amazonas.
| States | Population | Capitals | Population | Altitudes, in Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zulia | 185,000 | Maracaibo | 50,000 | 20 |
| Falcón | 170,000 | Coro | 20,000 | |
| Yaracuy | 103,000 | San Felipe | 15,000 | 808 |
| Carabobo | 200,000 | Valencia | 60,000 | 1,577 |
| Aragua | 115,000 | Maracay | 15,000 | 1,463 |
| Federal District | 137,000 | Caracas | 100,000 | 3,036 |
| Miranda | 173,000 | Ocumare del Tuy | 10,000 | 693 |
| Anzoátegui | 162,000 | Barcelona | 16,000 | 43 |
| Sucre | 117,000 | Cumaná | 15,000 | |
| Monagas | 90,000 | Maturín | 16,000 | 244 |
| Guárico | 221,000 | Calabozo | 10,000 | 330 |
| Cojedes | 75,000 | San Carlos | 12,000 | 495 |
| Portuguesa | 115,000 | Guanare | 11,000 | 636 |
| Zamora | 75,000 | Barinas | 7,000 | 594 |
| Apure | 30,000 | San Fernando | 8,000 | 240 |
| Táchira | 133,000 | San Cristóbal | 17,000 | 2,722 |
| Mérida | 115,000 | Mérida | 15,000 | 5,415 |
| Trujillo | 184,000 | Trujillo | 12,000 | 2,640 |
| Lara | 231,000 | Barquisimeto | 35,000 | 1,868 |
| Nueva Esparta | 60,000 | La Ascunción | 3,000 | 356 |
| Bolívar | 70,000 | Ciudad Bolívar | 20,000 | 125 |
| Territories | ||||
| Delta Amacuro | 12,258 | Tucupita | 1,000 | [A] |
| Amazonas | 3,298 | San Fernando de Atabapo | 400 | [A] |
[A] Figures for the area of the States and others omitted are unavailable.
The number of inhabitants, estimated as a trifle less than 3,000,000, is about seven to a square mile. Seventy per cent of the people are called poor, hence with a rather small purchasing power. The Federal District has about 15 persons to the mile, the density in general decreasing in proportion to the distance from the capital. The Guayana region, the Delta, and Apure, supposed to have less than half a person to a mile, are among the least populated regions of the globe.
The white population is ranked as about 10 per cent of the whole, the mestizos, those of mixed race, as 70 per cent; the rest are Africans, Indians, and foreigners. About ³⁄₄ of a million live in 48 towns; 75,000 are engaged in agriculture. In most of the cities are people accustomed to European society, with a taste for European luxuries, as well as those of simpler habits and desires. As in Colombia, the requirements of those who live high on the mountains and those on the llanos are very different. Attractive inducements are offered to immigrants for colonization.
The Indians are of many tribes, some quite distinct from the others. As a small part of the Goajira Peninsula is in Venezuela, there are Goajiros like those in Colombia. A large proportion of the aborigines became mingled with the Spaniards; in the mountainous sections of the north live few Indians of pure blood. In the region of the Delta and in the southern part of the country are many Indians of at least 16 tribes; some are dirty and stupid, others intelligent and fierce; some are good workers and boatmen, others are timid and agricultural. The Arawaks are gentle, industrious, and clean.
Venezuela’s percentage of illiteracy has been high, but since 1912 the system of education has been reorganized. The National Government has established in the principal cities primary schools with six grades. Attendance at four of these since 1919 is compulsory. The teaching of English was then ordered. In the various capitals are 22 colegios (high schools), several cities having also Commercial Schools, Schools of Fine Arts, and of Arts and Trades.
There are Universities in Caracas and in Mérida, with Schools of Law, Medicine, Philosophy and Letters, Engineering, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Theology.
States and Municipalities make additional provision.
The Press includes official gazettes in the capitals of the States, and other periodicals devoted to scientific, literary, and other special subjects.
Religion. There is freedom in religion; the State, however, contributes to the Roman Catholic Church. Civil marriage alone is legal; the religious ceremony generally follows, although in the rural districts, where priests are scarce and the fees high, both ceremonies are often omitted. Divorce is now permissible.
Venezuela belongs to the Postal Union and has parcel post; but service to the interior is rather primitive.
The Telegraph service, with about 6000 miles of wire, is cheap and called efficient; the telephone lines have double their length of wire. At Caracas, Maracaibo, and Maracay there are wireless stations communicating with Curaçao and so with the outside world. There is also cable service.
Money is in gold, silver, and nickel coins, and there are bank notes issued by four banks. The bolívar is the unit of money, equal to the French franc: 19.3 cents. A dollar passes for 5 bolívars. American money circulates near the coast, as does the English sovereign. The natives frequently use the term peso for which they employ the $ sign. As the peso equals but 4 bolívars this creates confusion and mistakes must be guarded against.
The Metric System is official, compulsory, and in general use.