nnd the Ca/nary Islands. ** ^ 



possessed a considerable collection of excellent philosophical in- 

 struments ; and that modest individual was acquainted with 

 their practical application, and discoursed intelligently upon 

 them. The Marquis di Nava united literature with numerous 

 scientific acquirements, and his library would do honour to any 

 town. The judge of the tribunal Don Nicolas de las Torres 

 was practically acquainted with every department of physical 

 science, and very industriously collected every observation rela- 

 tive to it. We felt equal interest in the amiable family Cana^- 

 tho, and in many others. 



At the advanced season of the year, Sta Cruz could scarcely 

 oflR?r any thing to the botanist which he had not seen before, 

 and to greater advantage. Our meeting with Don Francisca 

 Escolar was greatly in our favour, however. He had examined 

 all the islands geognostically, and had made elegant, accurate, 

 and spirited observations upon the whole of them. His collec- 

 tions and his inforip.ation form an important part of the know- 

 ledge we obtained of these islands. 



A large boat comes from Gran Canaria to Sta Cruz, two or 

 three times a week, with fruit and cattle. This is the most 

 common communication between the two islands. We went on 

 board one of these boats, on the 26th June, at 5 o"*clock in the 

 evening. We were led to expect that we would reach Canaria 

 on the following morning ; but the winds between the islands 

 were two weak and variable. It was 4 p. m. before we could 

 land on the coast, in the lonely and desolate creek De la Sardi- 

 nia. Galdas, the nearest place, lay at the distance of a league, 

 upon a flat hill of tuff*. We were well received by the inhabi- 

 tants of that place, and in a particularly hospitable manner by 

 Don Joaquim, an old, wealthy, good-natured, benevolent man. 



Upon the following day, a journey of about six leagues to 

 Las Palmas, the chief town, was well calculated to make us ac- 

 quainted with the peculiar character of this island. It was no 

 longer Teneriffe. The features of Africa, and of eastern coun- 

 tries, were every where presented to us. The villages were sur- 

 rounded with palms, that appear to grow extremely well. Water 

 runs in every direction ; and the lowlands are covered with rich 

 plantations of Indian corn. We went through many valleys, 

 the Valley of Moja and that of Teror, which are very conspi- 



e2 



