56 CANARY ISLANDS. 



dancrer and of my fatigue, for I had discovered a deep 

 stratum of yellowish earth, which contained millions of 

 crystals of pyroxene, distinct in their forms, of a large 

 size, and easily procured. From the danger of being 

 swept off the precipice by the fury of the wind, I was soon 

 obliged to descend to the south side of the mountain, where 

 I found the weather fair and calm, and the lofty Teyde, 

 just peeping over the intermediate mountain, was crowned 

 with a brilliant rainbow, a spectacle, perhaps, as rare as it 

 was sublime. 



The remaining part of the day, I travelled over a barren 

 country, having scarcely any vegetation to diversify its 

 monotonous cliffs, except the prickly pear and a few fig- 

 trees. I observed large heaps of the fruit of the former 

 preparing for the winter store of the natives ; this and gojio* 

 being their chief sustenance during the year. 



About dusk, I arrived at Guia, a straggling village, con- 

 taining 15T1 inhabitants, chiefly fishermen, where, with 

 some difficulty, my guides procured me lodgings for the 

 night. Early the next morning, I set off again and trav- 

 elled more than three leagues over an excessively barren 

 tract intersected by numerous ravines, some of them being 

 of such terrific depth, that the mind of the descending 

 traveller is impressed with involuntary agitation. On 

 reaching their bottom, the voices of my guides were 

 increased to an astonishing loudness, and echoed against 

 their walls with repeated reverberations. 



About noon, I arrived at Adexe, a pleasant village 

 situated in a fertile valley, which contains 1048 inhabitants. 

 It stands on a stratum of brecciae, w^hich is very easily cut 

 into blocks, that are used for building. Here I observed 

 several dark-complexioned people, having straight black 

 hair, resembling the Moors of the continent. Towards 

 evening, I reached a small plain situated on a hill, called 



*Thi3 substance is usually made of maize, or barley, and at times, as a dainty, 

 of wheat. Tlie grain is first parched over the fire, and then ground into coarse 

 flour between two small portable mill-stones, moved by the hand ; and this powder 

 is the gofio, which they eat without any other kind of food. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, tliey put a quantity of it with water, or, as a luxury, with coats' or asses' milk, 

 into a zurrun, or small leather sack, and after working it well upon their knees, 

 they knead it into small pellets, which they throw into their mouths by handfulls, 

 and devour them with greediness. 



