32 Transactions of the Canadian Institute. [Vol. VII. 



castlets, who do much to catch Httle. We went round about among the 

 Celestinos or Moors of the coast, inspecting those who exhibited negro, 

 mulatto and Arab types, others indefinable, and many that were ruddy, 

 with blue eyes. While contemplating these last, I asked myself the 

 question : ' Were they descendants of the ancient Guanche family 

 that existed prior to the historic epoch in the remote ages of Atlantis, 

 or of captives taken in the Canaries, from the fifteenth century onwards, 

 or, perhaps, specimens of the Vandal population or of other barbarians 

 who had passed into the north of Africa?' In regard to the islands of 

 Canaria, Tenerife, Palma and Gomera, they contained many Moriscos 

 and many more negro slaves, not only in private service, but also as 

 labourers on the plantations. The first of the islands referred to still 

 has pueblos, such as Santa Lucia de Tirajana, in which half of the census 

 is negro shaded or of a significant darkness, an obscurity that extends 

 to several villages. Similar conditions obtain in Tenerife as at Adeje 

 and other points, and the same is the case in Gomera and Palma. As 

 for the island of Hierro, although not altogether free from these extra- 

 neous ethnic elements, it was the least contaminated, for a native 

 peasantry lived frugally beside the many waters that irrigated their 

 sugar and other plantations. 



" Ignorance of these historical facts, and a superficial examination of 

 the subject, have given occasion to certain writers to state, with a 

 scientific air, that the Guanches were prognathic, not that they could 

 find any living example of an acute facial angle, but, from the discovery 

 of skulls fulfilling the conditions, taken from tombs opened and little 

 studied, they generalized from rare exceptions, being misled by the 

 spirit of novelty. This question led me, as by the hand, to occupy 

 myself, though but lightly, with the subject of the Guanche race, in 

 order to aid in re-establishing historic truth concerning it. Terrified by 

 the assertions of books, the press and other deterrents, both natives and 

 strangers repeat to all new-comers, with affected lamentation, that they 

 possess evidence of the annihilation of the Guanche population by the 

 conquistadores. It is this common and vulgar, foolish talk that professes 

 to give knowledge. Guanches are we and all ours, all, even to the 

 foundation of the population of the archipelago, with the foreign 

 elements already remarked. Without doubt, inasmuch as we live, 

 speak, dress and think in European fashion, one would have difficulty 

 in discovering it. Let us turn to our pastoral idylls and primitive skin 

 dress in order to recognize ourselves. 



" Until the end of the eighteenth century, none of our chroniclers 

 said, or was able to say, such impostures. Unfortunately, our writers of 



