550 THE GUANCHES. 



sote,^^ which is translated : " I swear by the bone of him who has carried 

 the crown to follow his example and to make the happiness of my sub- 

 jects." '■'■Janaga quai/oeh, arcliimenceu no liaya dir luinUU) nahec chuiu/ra 

 petut^^ — "The powerful Father of the Fatherland died and left the 

 natives orphans." 



These sentences give an idea of the language to which these ancient 

 races were accustomed, and also point out liow poetical were their 

 ideas. 



In many respects this primitive language seems to have been singu- 

 larly fortunate, for tlic Marquis of l>ute observes as to their verl)s, 

 "There is only conjugation, and it seems to be beautifully developed, 

 as though upon a purely logical basis, like an ideal generated from a 

 philosopher's thought." 



As regards the cave dwellings, though many are scattered through- 

 out all the ivshinds of the Canary group, the chief are at Atalaya, in the 

 Grand Canary, about 7 miles from the port and town of Las Palmas. 

 This City of Caves is situated on a ijeculiar-shaped lime and sandstone 

 hill, which projects into a wild, rugged valley, overlooking a great 

 expanse of country, the sea lying far below, and the main mountain 

 range of the island, some 7,000 to 8,000 feet high, rising behind. The 

 road to it, after leaving the modern and excellent Spanish carriage 

 road, is rough and fatiguing, and is probably as ancient a track as has 

 been ever trod by human feet. Over this road for countless tliousands 

 of years these troglodytes have traveled on their way up from fishing 

 in the sea or from the cultivation of the lower lands, and over these 

 same tracks still travel their half-breed descendants in search of work 

 in the towns and the vineyards. 



The liill of Atalaya forms two round heads, both honeycombed with 

 ancient caves, which vary in size, tlie smallest not more than 8 to 10 

 feet square and G feet high; the largest, with two apartments, both of 

 which may measure 18 feet by 12 or 14, and 8 or 9 feet high. It is 

 evident that in many cases existing natural caves were utilized, being 

 squared off inside and shaped to suit the convenience of the inhabitants, 

 but many others are entirely the work of man, scooped out with intinite 

 pains from the solid sandstone rock. The most primitive races of all 

 probably did none of this scooping, but were content to live in the 

 natural caves in the same way as their simian brethren. 



Some idea of the extent of the cave communities may be formed when 

 it is stated that even to this day, with many hundred caves empty or 

 utilized as storehouses, there can not be less than 1,500 inhabtants in 

 Atalaya, besides numbers of goats, i)igs, doidi:eys, and mu]<\s, who are 

 also ijrovided with cave accommodation, without trespassing on the 

 sleeping room of their masters, as in Ireland. Many of these cave 

 rooms aie very comfortably furnished and are inviting to look at. Some 

 are particularly clean, well whitewashed, and the Hoors thoroughly 

 swept, whilst beds with snow-white covers and little tables with rough 



