64 CANARY ISLANDS. 



ond opening took place in El Baranco de Almerchig-a, 

 a league from Ycore. The lavas were so abundant, that 

 the whole Valley of Fasnia, or Arenza, was filled up. The 

 isecond mouth ceased vomitinor ei^ht days after its com- 

 mencement. A third opening was formed on the 2d of 

 February of the same year, in La Caiiada de Arafo. The 

 lavas divided into three currents, and would have destroyed 

 the village of Guimar, had they not been stopped in El Valle 

 de Melosar, by a chain of rocks, which formed an insupera- 

 ble obstacle to their passage. The volcano is now extinct, 

 and consists of large conical masses of small fragments of 

 black scoriae and ashes. 



A short distance to the westward of this volcano there 

 is a frightful-looking mountain, rising more than 1000 feet 

 perpendicularly, on the sides of which grows an abundance 

 of orchilla, or archil, (Lichen rocella. Lin.) a kind of moss 

 used in dyeing. It is of a grayish color, and yields a pur- 

 ple tincture, fu^ritive, but very beautiful, which is one of 

 the best chemical tests for acids and alkalies, and is known 

 by the name of tincture of litmus. By the addition of tin 

 it is rendered durable as a dye, and then approaches to 

 scarlet. Archil, however, is most commonly employed to 

 give a bloom to pinks and other colors. It readily gives 

 out its coloring matter to water, or to any kind of spirits. 



About three o'clock I had descended below the clouds, 

 and had a fine view of Grand Canary, and most of the 

 towns on the south side of this island. Just before I reached 

 Guimar I came to a deep ravine, from the top of which 

 I attempted to descend to a Guanche cave, but without 

 success, after descending fifteen or twenty feet. In climb- 

 ing back, a projecting rock gave way and fell upon my 

 head, which caused me to stagger quite to the brink of the 

 precipice. One of my feet slipped off, and fortunately, 

 one of my guides caught me by the arm, and saved me 

 from being dashed to pieces on the rocks below. 



Shortly after I passed through Guimar, a pleasant vil- 

 lage situated on a fertile plain, and containing 2990 in- 

 habitants, and proceeded about a league over a barren 

 tract to Candelaria, where I passed the night. Most of 

 the inhabitants that I observed at Guimar had very small 

 black eyes and tawny complexions. 



