434 WILLIAM ciikisty's 



about noon, we succeeded in getting round Punta d'Anaga. 

 The south coast is bold, and has some magnificent ravines. 

 Some of the slopes of the cliffs were covered with spots of a 

 a singular glaucous hue, which, upon examination with a 

 telescope, were found to be bushes o{ Euphorbia Canariensls, 

 a plant which forms such a striking and peculiar feature in the 

 maritime flora of the Canaries. We proceeded but slowly 

 along the coast, and towards evening, the wind having entirely 

 died away, were obliged to order out the boats to tow us into 

 Santa Cruz, where we ultimately anchored about nine in the 

 evening. It was then quite dark, and we were much interested 

 in watching the numerous fishing-boats scattered over the bay, 

 each with a large fire in the bows of the boat to attract the 

 fish. The tall forms of the boatmen moving betvv^een us and 

 the light, which also partially illumined the rocky over-hanging 

 cliffs, and the smooth sea with its ruddy glare, altogether 

 formed a wild and singular scene. We were visited by a 

 custom-house boat, and received permission to land as soon 

 as we pleased in the morning. 



5th. — As soon as we had breakfasted, a boat came off from 

 the town, containing Mr. Richardson, an Englishman, who 

 keeps a respectable hotel, I believe the only one in the place. 

 We accompanied him on shore, and w^ere landed on the mole, 

 a small low pier built of dark lava, which is celebrated as the 

 place where Nelson lost his arm in his unsuccessful attempt 

 on the island.'' The city of Santa Cruz looks well from the 

 anchorage ; but being small, and built on level ground, has 

 not so striking an aspect as Funchal. In every other respect 

 it is, however, much superior. The houses are generally 

 handsomer and better built, the streets regular, well paved, 

 and furnished with flagged causeways mostly on both sides. 

 The principal square is not so large as the Praza at Funchal, 

 but is infinitely finer, being surrounded by large handsome 

 houses (including the palace of the governor), and still farther 

 ornamented by a lofty obelisk, surmounted by a well-executed 

 marble statue of the Madonna. I was surprised, in passing 

 through it, to observe in the balcony of one of the houses a 

 specimen of that superb Mexican plant, Poinsettia ptdcherrima, 



'' Some of our party who visited the churches in Santa Cruz, saw in one of 

 them some colours taken from the Ens;lish on tliis occasion. 



