A DESCRIPTION OF THE CANARIES a.d 



c. 1550. 

 neere brooke sides, it is a tree that hath no timber in it, 

 but groweth directly upward with the body, having 

 marvelous thicke leaves, and every leafe at the toppe 

 of two yards long and almost halfe a yard broad. The 

 tree never yeeldeth fruit but once, and then is cut 

 downe ; in whose place springeth another, and so still 

 continueth. The fruit groweth on a branch, and every 

 tree yeeldeth two or three of those branches, which beare 

 some more and some lesse, as some forty and some 

 thirty, the fruit is like a Cucumber, and when it is ripe 

 it is blacke, and in eating more delicate then any 

 conserve. 



This Hand is sufficiently provided of Oxen, Kine, 

 Camels, Goats, Sheepe, Capons, Hens, Ducks, and 

 Pidgeons, and great Partridges. Wood is the thing 

 that most wanteth : and because I have particularly to [II. ii. 5.] 

 intreat of the other sixe Hands, I leave further inlarging 

 of Canaria, which standeth in 27 degrees distant from 

 the Equator. 



The He of Tenerif. 



THe Hand of Tenerif standeth in 27 degrees and a 

 halfe from the equator, and is distant from Canarir, 

 12 leagues Northward. This Hand containeth 17 leagues 

 in length, and the land lieth high in forme of a ridge 

 of sowen lande in some part of England, and in the 

 midst of the sayd place standeth a round hill called Pico 

 Deteithe, situated in this sort. The top of this pike 

 conteineth of heigth directly upward 1 5 leagues & more, 

 which is 45 English miles, out of the which often times 

 proceedeth fire and brimstone, and it may be about halfe 

 a mile in compasse : the sayd top is in forme or like- 

 nesse of a caldron. But within two miles of the top 

 is nothing but ashes & pumish stones : yet beneath that 

 two miles is the colde region covered all the yere with 

 snow, and somwhat lower are mighty huge trees grow- 

 ing, called Vinatico, which are exceeding heavy, and 

 will not rot in any water, although they lie a thousand 

 vi 129 1 



