a2 



A VOYAGE TO 



'776- I was obliged to contrad my excurfions into the country ; 

 <..- T'' '-* otherwife, I had propofed to vifit the top of this famous 



mountain *. 



To the eaftvvard of Santa Cruz, the ifland appears per- 

 fectly barren. Ridges of hills run towards the fea ; between 

 which ridges are deep valleys, terminating at mountains or 

 hills that run acrofs, and are higher than the former. 

 Thofe that run towards the fea, are marked by impreffions 

 on their fides, which make them appear as a fucceffion of 

 conic hills, with their tops very rugged. The higher ones 

 that run acrofs, are more uniform in their appearance. 



In the forenoon of the ifl of Auguft, after we had an- 

 chored in the road, I went on fliore to one of thefe valleys, 

 with an intention to reach the top of the remoter hills, 

 which feemed covered with wood ; but time would not 

 allow me to get farther than their foot. After walking 

 about three miles, I found no alteration in the appearance 

 of the lower hills; which produce great quantities of the 

 euphorbia Canaricnfis. It is furprifmg that this large fucculent 

 plant, lliould thrive on fo burnt-up a foil. When broken, 

 which is eafily done, the quantity of juice is very great; 

 and it might be fuppofed that, when dried, it would Ihrivel 

 to nothing ; yet it is a pretty tough, though foft and light 



* See an account of a journey to the top of the Pic of TenerifFe, In Sprat's H'tjlory 

 if the Royal Society, p. 200, &c. Glas alfo went to the top of it. Hijloiy of tut Ca- 

 nary IJlandi, p. 252 to 259. In the Philofophical Tranfaftions, vol. xlvii. p. 353 — 

 356, we have Obfrvations made, in going up the Pic of Teneriffe, by Dr. T. Hd\: - 

 den. The Dodor makes its height, above the level of the fea, to be 2566 fathoms, 

 or 15,396 Englifh feet; and fays, that this was confirmed by two fubfequent obfcrva- 

 tions by himfelf, and another made by Mr. Crolle, the Conful. And yet, I fim , 

 that the Chevalier de Borda, who meafured the height of this mountain in Aj: t 

 1776, makes it to he only 1931 French toifes, or 12,340 Englifh feet. See Dot^tor 

 Former's Obfervations during a Voyage round the IVorld, p. 32. 



wood. 



