LETTER XI. 



Excursion to Chasna. 



On the 16th instant, I set off from Port Orotava, in 

 order to make a grand excursion round the Peak. I pur- 

 sued my course during the entire day along the sea-shore, 

 travelling through a country widely diversified in its 

 aspect, as well as its productions. That portion of the 

 rout between Realejo de Abaxo and San Juan dela Rambla, 

 is one of the most interesting parts of the island, both as 

 regards its fertility and its picturesqueness. Here the lofty 

 mountain of Tygayga abruptly breaks above your head 

 and may be seen 



" Mirror'd in the ocean vast, 

 A tliousand fathoms down." 



Here you enter a lovely glen traversed by babbling 

 streamlets, which are overhung with the '' golden orange," 

 the " blushing peach," and the " generous vine." Here, 

 too, you may gaze at myriads of golden insects and glit- 

 terino- lizards basking in the sun : and there, countless 

 warblers 



" Gracefully riding through the sky." 



I continued my way to Ycod de los Vinos, passing 

 through San Juan de la Rambla; where near the latter 

 place, I observed an irregular basaltic rock, the columns 

 of which were six-sided, and were connected with each 

 other at the ends by oblique angles. The country between 

 these two villas affords scarcely any vegetation, except 

 the Cactus opuntia, and a few stinted fig-trees, and is 

 truly called by the natives la mal pais, (the bad coun- 



