We have seen that the Latin American nations have been dowered by Providence with everything that could make a people prosperous and contented, if wisely disposed. In some respects their circumstances are superior to those of Europe and Asia. They have no over-powerful or rapacious neighbours, no chasms of race or religion to divide them, no insensate trade rivalries--things such as in the Old World have wrought such havoc with mankind. To the traveller who has sojourned in these lands it will always remain a matter of interest to see how their lives develop, what fortune or vicissitudes befall them. Under any circumstances, they offer a field of abiding interest--scenic, natural, antiquarian--and their folk are likely ever to retain the traits which attract us. Commerce and business will doubtless grow and expand between them and the Old World, or their neighbours of the United States, with corresponding benefits, but there are many features of the region which fortunately will never fall under the domain of business. One thing, again, which humanity needs is more intercourse, and Latin America is too remote from us. Books are useful, but there should be a greater interflow of people. Unfortunately, it is a feature of life now that travel becomes more rather than less expensive, and we do not know what the future may hold for or against the traveller in this connexion. This circumstance, also, is one of those which await the more logical outlook and constructive ability of mankind, concerning the things by which we live and move and have our being. * * * * * Such, then, is the romance, reality and future of these interesting lands of the Spanish American world, as far as it has been possible to depict them in these pages. [Illustration] FOOTNOTES: [43] Chaves. [44] Santos-Dumont. [45] _Can We Set the World in Order: a Science of Corporate Life_ (London, 1916). Also _The Tropics: their Resources, People and Future_ (Grant Richards, Ltd.). INDEX Abattoirs, 165 "ABC" Powers, 288 Acré, 96, 106 Aeroplanes, 267 Alcohol, 208, _see_ Rum Alligators and crocodiles, 34, 40, 48, 87, 162, 213 Aluminium, 54 Amazon, 26, 51, 74-110, 208 "Amazons" 82 Amenities, civic, 257 Americans, 237, 273, 275, 284 Amerigo Vespucci, 30, 113 Andes, 20, 34, 74 Architecture, Colonial, 259, 261 Argentina, 158, 202, 235, 276 Artigas, 168, 199 Asuncion, 160, 162, 211, 216 Aviation, 267 Ayacucho, 174 Balata, 64 Bananas, 19, _see_ Fruits Baranquilla, 14 Barbosa Ruy, 289 _Beagle_, 233 Belem, 105 Bello Horizonte, 122 Beni, 95 Beresford, General, 202 Birds, 35, 44-8, 71, 87, 162 Blow-pipe, 71 Bogota, 14 Bolivar, 13, 29 Bolshevism, 274 Borburema, 117 Brazil, 106, 111-57, 276 Brazil nuts, 85 British, 17, 19, 33, 54, 156, 237, 273 British Guiana, 56 British Legion, 17, 285 Buenos Ayres, 161, 165, 202, 209 Butterflies, 49