LETTER VII 



Excursion to Santa Cruz. 



Having just obtained my emancipation, I am happy once 

 more to enjoy the sweets of freedom. On the ISth instant, 

 at mid-day, I was released from quarantine, and conducted 

 by some soldiers directly to the Governor of this port, 

 ■who ordered me to present myself, immediately, before the 

 Governor General, at Santa Cruz which is situated about 

 thirty miles from here. It being impracticable to reach 

 that place on that evening, my journey was postponed 

 until the next day. Early the ensuing morning I set off 

 on horseback, and just after leaving this town, ascended a 

 steep hill, in a winding direction ; and all of a sudden 

 there burst upon me a most charming view of the Valley 

 of Orotava. The scene before me was so enchanting, that 

 a description of it, to bear even a faint resemblance, would 

 appear like romance. It consists of an elevated slope, 

 containing about four square leagues, and is abruptly 

 hemmed on three sides by a range of lofty mountains 

 which intersect the island. The other side is bounded by 

 the ocean, the shores of which are bold and precipitous at 

 all points, and are constantly dashed by the snow-white 

 surf Numerous rivulets and springs gush forth from the 

 foot of the mountains, and after rushing dowai the ravines 

 and forming beautiful cascades, are employed in irrigating 

 and fertilizing the soil, and in turning mills. 



This broad champaign is interspersed with compact 

 villas and detached dwellings, which are encompassed by 

 vineyards and corn-fields, that yield at once the choicest 

 and the most varied fruits. In short, " it is a vast garden, 

 decked out in aromatic groves, which realize the heau 

 ideal of Paradise." There can be but few spots on the 



