446 WILLIAM Christy's 



their more exposed situation, exhibited very grotesque and 

 singular forms. The region of Heaths afforded us some rather 

 finer specimens than those wliich we had seen in ascending ; 

 but still not so fine as many of those in Madeira. All at once 

 we emerged on the edge of a chain of mountains, forming one 

 side of the great valley of Taoro, in which Orotava is situated. 

 Our road lay for a considerable distance along the edge of this 

 magnificent precipice, whose height must be several thousand 

 feet, so that we looked completely down into the valley, glow- 

 ing in the beams of the setting sun, with its beautiful white 

 towns and villages gleaming out from among the palms and 

 other trees which surrounded them. But even as we gazed, 

 the huge shadow of the Peak was rapidly advancing over this 

 beautiful picture, and ere long it was wrapped in comparative 

 obscurity. At length we reached the spot where our descent 

 into the valley was to commence. A road is cut zig-zag down 

 the almost perpendicular face of the mountain — and such a road ! 

 Its steepness was excessive, and although paved, it more re- 

 sembled the dry bed of a mountain-torrent than any thing else 

 I could compare it to. From the shade of the mountain it was 

 almost dark, which added somewhat to the difficulties of the 

 descent. There was, however, sufficient light to collect a few 

 plants from the rocks by the road-side, and I was particularly 

 pleased to find among them the beautiful Descuraiiiia millefolia. 

 When about half way down, at an angle of the road which 

 commanded a view of the valley, our guides suddenly halted, 

 exclaiming " Orazion," and we heard the bells of Realexo 

 d'Abaxo, far below us, ringing out for the evening prayer. It 

 was really a striking scene ! The dark shadows of the moun- 

 tains above us, — the partially darkened valley, — the perfect 

 stillness around, broken only occasionally by the sounds of the 

 bells in the far depths below, — all conspired to soothe and 

 calm the mind after the excitements of the day. The wor- 

 shippers below were returning thanks for preservation during 

 the past day, and imploring the protection of Heaven for the 

 coming hours of darkness and repose ; and it was impossible 

 not to feel called upon to join with them in acknowledging 

 that we had been safely carried through a day of some peril. 

 Beyond a momentary halt, our guides seemed to take no notice 

 of this summons, as they neither uncovered or assumed any 

 posture of devotion. In this respect it was strikingly different 



