DRAGON-TREE OF OROTAVA. 197 
The famous dragon-tree of Orotava, a sea- 
port town in the Isle of Teneriffe, has been re- 
peatedly mentioned by travellers, on account of 
its immense age and size. It is thus described 
by Humboldt. ‘This gigantic tree is now in 
the garden of a M. Franchi, in the little town 
of Orotava, one of the most delicious spots in 
the civilized world. In June 1799, when we 
ascended the peak of Teneriffe, we found this 
enormous tree then possessing a circumference 
of forty-five feet a little above the root. Tra- 
dition relates that this dragon-tree was worshipped 
by the Guanches the original inhabitants of the 
island; and that in 1402, it was as large and as 
hollow as when we saw it. When we call to 
mind that the dragon-tree is of a very slow 
growth, we may readily conceive that this Oro- 
tava giant is extremely old. Without doubt it 
is, next to the Baobab-tree, one of the oldest 
inhabitants of our planet.” From time to time this 
great tree has seriously suffered from the effects of 
hurricanes. In July 1819, a large portion of its 
top was blown down. A traveller who visited it 
in 1837, states that it was still in existence, 
growing in a neglected cabbage-garden, uncon- 
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