432 WILLIAM Christy's 



notes of a very hasty journal, and in some degree from recol- 

 lection ; but a subsequent long and serious illness has pre- 

 vented its being made as complete as it otherwise might have 

 been. Some little assistance has been obtained from that 

 magnificent, but at present incomplete, work, " Histoire 

 Naturelle des Isles Canaries," now publishing in Pai*is, by 

 MM. Webb et Berthelot. 



1838, 1^^ January. — Having had a good run during the 

 night and most part of the day, we were almost in hopes of 

 getting a glimpse of the Peak; but the evening proving 

 slightly hazy, disappointed our expectations. 



9>d. — This morning, on going upon deck, we could distinctly 

 see Teneriffe, (then about forty miles distant,) but the Peak 

 was effectually veiled in clouds, from base to summit. Before 

 long, however, we were delighted to see its pointed apex 

 peeping above them, though, being covered with snow, it was 

 at first diflficult to distinguish it from the white clouds which 

 surrounded it. As morning advanced and the sun gained 

 power, this veil was rolled away, and we had the magnificent 

 spectacle of the stupendous cone, with its snowy covering, 

 glittering in the rays of an almost tropical sun. While at this 

 distance from the island, we were visited by a small insect, 

 (apparently a Cimea^,)''- which flew off in great numbers. It 

 was our intention (as visiting the Peak was our principal 

 object) to land at Port Orotava, which would have saved us 

 crossing the island, and placed us at once at our proper starting 

 point. Towards evening, however, the wind unfortunately 

 died away, and we were unable to make the port. The view 

 of the Peak by moonlight was very fine ; its spectral white 

 form contrasting strongly with the dark sky, and the almost 

 black mass of clouds and mountains below. I must confess 

 that our first impressions of this celebrated mountain were 

 those of disappointment ; — it did not appear nearly so lofty as 

 we had expected. It was not till we had seen it for a day, 

 under various lights, and compared it with the different sur- 

 rounding objects, that we became sensible of its stupendous 



" I may here mention that on my subsequent voyage from Madeira to England, 

 the nearest land being the Azores, ninety miles distant, the same insect flew on 

 board in abundance. Specimens captured on both occasions, with the very few 

 other insects collected in Teneriffe, are deposited in the Cabinet of the Entomo- 

 loffical Club. 



