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Caldera, which is over 4 miles in diameter and 5000-6000 ft. deep. 
his is drained by a deep ravine, the Barranco de las Angustias, 
which runs in a south-westerly direction to the sea. From the rim 0 
the crater, the highest point of which is about 7700 ft., the surface 
slopes steeply to the sea on the west, north and east. A high 
mountain ridge runs from the south-east of the crater to the south of 
The capital, Santa Cruz, almost always called “La Ciudad ”’ 
(the city) by the inhabitants, lies at the side of a coast crater, the 
Caldereta, 1000 ft. deep, half of which has been washed away by 
the sea. As we came near to land a gentle drizzle started which 
continued all day. We were told that rain usually ceases in La 
Palma before the end of May, and not a drop fell durmg the 
remainder of our visit. 
In the afternoon we called on Dr. Elias Santos y Abreu, the 
Director of the Museum, and one of the principal doctors of 
the island, to whom we had a letter of introduction from Dr. Perez. 
The town-hall of Santa Cruz is very interesting. It contains 
the standard of the Spanish Conquest, and the ancient official 
inanuscript records, which are much worm-eaten, and date from 
1554, in which year the previous town-hall was destroyed by fire. 
The remains of the latter are to be seen behind the present 
building. A curious oven used for baking bread was noticed high 
up on the outside wall of a neighbouring house. 
A visit was also paid to the museum, where we were cordially 
received by the officials, and the members of the Cosmological 
Society. There isa fine collection of articles used by the Guanches, 
the ancient inhabitants of the Canaries. Among them are numer- 
ous earthenware cooking pots elaborately ornamented outside, each 
vessel having a different pattern ; drinking cups, milk-bowls, bone 
needles, a stone knife, curious hats made of rushes, and necklaces 
of earthenware beads and of seeds. A collection of dried specimens 
) 
e crab which was fished up off the island from a depth of 
160 fathoms measured 3 ft. across as mounted, and 44 ft. when 
fully extended. 
On May 31st and June Ist a thorough exploration was made of 
the lower and middle parts of the Barranco del Carmen, a large 
ravine to the north of the town. 
a ver 
leaved Euphorbias, Kleinia neriifolia, Lavandula abrotanoides, low 
rounded greyish bushes something like wormwood (Schizogyne 
interesting pla: its, such as the endemic Crassulaceae and Caryo- 
phyllaceae, grew in the clefts of the perpendicular rock faces. 
