74 CANARY ISLANDS. 



them had a yellowish tint on their backs. They appeared 

 to be less disposed to sing than the domestic canary, and 

 their note less musical, although it has been remarked, 

 that those which inhabit Grand Canary and Montafia 

 Clara, have a more harmonious song, proving in a degree, 

 that under every zone, among birds of the same species, 

 each flock has its peculiar note. The domestic yellow, or 

 mottled canary, is a variety which has taken birth in Europe, 

 being the offspring of the wild canary and the German 

 siskin, [Fringilla spinus. Lin.) 



Early yesterday morning I pursued my way to this 

 city, called by the people here, Laguna. It is situated 

 on an elevated plain which unites with the Valley of Taco- 

 ronte, of which travellers of all nations speak with raptu- 

 rous enthusiasm. This delightful country extends from 

 this llano to San Juan de la Rambla, and presents scenes 

 of unrivalled beauty. The plain on which this city stands, 

 was formerly the bed of a take, and takes its name from 

 the Spanish word, laguna, a lake. By the annual 

 increase of the alluvion from the neighboring mountains, 

 it is now converted into richly-cultivated fields and gar- 

 dens. No longer than eighty years ago, some portions of 

 it were so fenny, that boats remained here during the 

 year ; and even at the present day, in the rainy seasons, 

 the water sometimes collects and forms a large pool, or 

 lake, and the inhabitants make use of boats to pass from 

 one place to another. 



This city, in 1830, contained 6,600 inhabitants, and is 

 nominally the metropolis of the province. Formerly, Las 

 Palmas in Canary, bore that title, and yet is so much so, 

 that the Audencia, or Supreme Civil Court, is held there. 

 But virtually, Santa Cruz may be regarded as the capital, 

 it having been the residence of the Governor General, 

 who, in virtue of his military office, has been the President 

 of the Audencia, for more than a century. This city has 

 a university, two parish churches, and five convents. It 

 has no trade, being inhabited by many of the nobility of the 

 island. 



Cuidad de Pun Cristobal de la Lajuna, I 

 Thursday, October 10, 1833. ) 



