104 



A VOYAGE TO 



1779- ceeds the height of the Pico de Teyde, or Peak of Teneriffe, 

 ^ / ' . by 724 feet, according to Dr. Heberden's computation, or 

 3680, according to that of the Chevalier de Borda. The 

 peaks of MounaKaah appeared to be about half a mile high; 

 and as they are entirely covered with mow, the altitude of 

 their fummits cannot be lefs than 18,400 feet. But it is pro- 

 bable that both thefe mountains may be considerably higher. 

 For, in infular fituations, the effects of the warm feaair muft 

 necefTarily remove the line of mow, in equal latitudes, to a 

 greater height than where the atmofphere is chilled on all 

 fides by an immenfe tract of perpetual fnow. 



The coaft of Kaoo prefents a profpect of the moft horrid 

 and dreary kind : the whole country appearing to have un- 

 dergone a total change from the effects of fome dreadful 

 convulfion. The ground is every where covered with cin- 

 ders, and interfered in many places with black ftreaks, 

 which feem to mark the courfc of a lava that has flowed, 

 not many ages back, from the mountain Roa to the more. 

 The Southern promontory looks like the mere dregs of a 

 volcano. The projecting head-land is compofed of broken 

 and craggy rocks, piled irregularly on one another, and 

 terminating in fharp points. 



Notwithstanding the difmal afpect of this part of the aland, 

 there are many villages fcattered over it, and it certainly is 

 much more populous than the verdant mountains of Apoona. 

 Nor is this circumflance hard to be accounted for. As thefe 

 iflanders have no cattle, they have confequently no ufe for 

 pafluragc, and therefore naturally prefer fuch ground, as 

 cither lies more convenient for fifhing, or is bed fuitcd to 

 the cultivation of yams and plantains. Now amidft thefe 

 ruins, there are many patches of rich foil, which are care- 

 3 fullv 



