CANARY ISLANDS. 61 



Europe. He accordingly put his project into execution, 

 and continued it with considerable success for several 

 years, but the expenses annually incurred were so heavy, 

 that he was obliged to abandon it. Humboldt made pro- 

 posals for the Prussian Government to purchase it and 

 continue its object, but as no land belonging to Spain cati 

 be owned out of its provinces, the proposition could not 

 be carried into effect. The Marquis, however, very mu- 

 nificently made the king of Spain a present of it, provided 

 he would keep it under cultivation. This generous offer 

 he accepted, but through some neglect or other, it has 

 been suffered to decline, and is now rented for a trifling 

 sum, and little or nothing more is done for it except what 

 nature does, than to plant the open spaces with a few 

 culinary vegetables. 



Between this Garden and the ocean there is a delightful 

 country mansion called La Paz, which, together with the 

 surrounding prospect, is the most enchanting and romantic 

 spot on the island. It is built near the brink of a lofty 

 precipice about 300 feet in height, which overhangs the 

 sea. It is encompassed by a beautiful garden tastefully 

 laid out, and is supplied with tanks. From the top of the 

 house one can command the whole Valley of Orotava, and 

 in clear weather the island of Palma. But the most pic- 

 turesque part of the scene is the precipice. The spectator, 

 standing on the verge of the descent, sees beneath him the 

 vast ocean, which he hears hoarsely bellowing in the cav- 

 erns beneath his feet. In placing himself on the sea-shore, 

 he can ascend mid-way up the cliff by an avenue, to a deep 

 cavern which was formerly occupied by one of the Guanche 

 kings for a palace. 



A few days ago I took an excursion to La Villa de la 

 Orotava, and visited the garden of Mr. Cologan, in which 

 stands the great dragon-tree ( DraccEiia draco. Lin.) men- 

 tioned by Humboldt. At the time that he visited these 

 islands it was fifty or sixty feet high, having a circumfer- 

 ence, near the roots, of forty-five feet. The trunk was 

 divided into a great number of branches which rose in 

 the form of a candlestick, and were terminated by tufts of 

 leaves radiating similar to the burs of chesnuts. But in la 

 6 



