RECOLLECTIONS OF TENERIFFE. 435 



SO recently introduced into England. Having visited the 

 Custom-house, where our baggage underwent a merely nominal 

 examination, we proceeded to the Fonda Inglesa (Richardson's 

 Hotel), and immediately set about making our arrangements 

 for starting, without loss of time, for Port Orotava. Having 

 engaged horses, &c., we next went to pay our respects to the 

 governor, whom we found to be a very agreeable man. He 

 speaks French well, and kindly offered us every assistance in 

 his power, should we require it. We next presented a few 

 letters of introduction which we had brought to some of the 

 principal English merchants, who were extremely kind and 

 attentive to us, and we could only regret that the shortness of 

 om' stay prevented our availing ourselves of the hospitalities 

 they so kindly tendered to us. We were particularly struck, 

 on first landing, with the very superior appearance of the 

 people to that of the natives of Madeira. This was particularly 

 the case with the women. Instead of the miserable beings we 

 had so often seen in Madeira, we now beheld females of 

 splendid stature and carriage, most of them with features 

 decidedly handsome. Their head-dress is very picturesque, 

 consisting of a large white handkerchief or shawl thrown over 

 the back of the head, with the ends hanging down on each 

 side of the face. In many instances, however, the effect is 

 entirely spoiled by the addition of a narrow-brimmed high- 

 crowned straw hat. The females of the higher classes wear 

 the elegant black lace mantilla, so much used in Spain ; and 

 nothing can be more graceful or beautiful. Sometimes when 

 attending mass early in the morning, they assume a less pic- 

 turesque dress, consisting of a mantilla of fine flannel, trimmed 

 and edged with satin. All our preparations being completed, 

 we started about noon, eleven in number, including three 

 ladies, on donkeys. Four of our party, who were not inclined 

 for the fatigue of such an expedition, remained to amuse them- 

 selves as well as they could in Santa Cruz during our absence. 

 Each equestrian had an attendant on foot, so that, altogether, 

 we formed quite a formidable cavalcade, which seemed to ex- 

 cite no little sensation amongst the inhabitants of those streets 

 through which we passed. We had also a couple of horses 

 for our baggage. The road, for about a mile and a half out 

 of the town, is most excellent, and would do credit to the 

 environs of many large towns in England : beyond this. 



