LETTER XV. 



Departure from Orotava. 



After a protracted and satisfactory visit at Port Orotava, 

 I took leave of my intelligent and hospitable friend, Mr. 

 Diston, whose kind attentions I gratefully acknowledge, 

 and shall long cherish them in my remembrance. Early 

 in the morning of the 7th instant, 1 was prevailed upon to 

 visit some of the large wine cellars, connected with the 

 " Salvador House," in London, known under the firm of 

 Pasley, Little & Co. It was extremely gratifying to 

 observe the systematic manner in which they conducted 

 their business. The better classes of their wines are 

 fabricated with the most careful attention, and are shipped 

 to Europe and America under the name of Tnicriffe par- 

 ticular wine, and are generally drunk for Madeira. A 

 very bad practice exists here in bringing considerable 

 quantities of inferior wines from Palma and other islands, 

 and shipping them for those of Teneriffe, in consequence 

 of which, they have gone into less repute. In truth, there 

 are actually more wines disposed of in Europe alone under 

 the name of Madeira and Teneriffe, than all these islands 

 produce, including every kind. 



At eight o'clock, I took my departure on foot, and con- 

 tinued my way as far as Matanzas. The morning was 

 splendidly beautiful ; not a wandering vapor tinged the 

 deep-blue sky, nor scarce a breath warped the silver mir- 

 ror of the sea. Myriads of glittering insects were sporting 

 in the sunbeams, and birds of the most brilliant plumage 

 were gliding through the air, alternately perching on the 

 fig-trees. Among them, I observed that the canary birds, 

 (Fringilla canaria. Lin.) held an appropriate rank. They 

 were, in general, of a dingy, greenish-gray, but some of 

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