78 CANARY ISLANDS. 



over thern, besides the great want of water in both. To 

 raise a supply of fruit, it is necessary to plant fig- and pear- 

 trees in circular holes about four feet deep, where they 

 are slieltered from the winds, and derive most of their 

 moisture in summer from the filtration of dew ; so soon as 

 the plant overreaches the top of the surrounding earth, it 

 is stinted by the blast ; but the quality of its fruit is excel- 

 lent. The muscatel grapes and watermelons, are particu- 

 larly fine on these islands. Lanzarote possesses in El 

 Puerto de Naos, the only safe harbor during all winds, that 

 there is in the province ; whereas all the others are open 

 roadsteads, or very indifferent bays. Its chief town is La 

 Villa de Teguise, which contains 4,424 inhabitants. The 

 chief town on Fuerteventura, is Oliva, having a population 

 of 2,181. 



Go.MERA and Hierro may be linked together, being 

 small islands, and of minor importance when compared 

 with the others, though there are different features in the 

 characters of each. The former is thickly covered with 

 wood, and has an abundant supply of water. Its staple 

 commodities are similar to those of TenerifFe, except 

 barilla. The Gomerans are very tenacious of the honor 

 of having given the West Indies the invaluable sugar-cane, 

 from whom Columbus procured that plant, and transported 

 it on his second voyage to America. The chief town of 

 Gomera, is San Sebestian, which contains 1,500 inhabi- 

 tants. There is also, in this island, a very good bay, 

 which, though small, may be considered the best anchorage 

 in the province with the exception of that of Lanzarote. 



Hierro, on the contrary, is a high rock, covered with a 

 thin soil, with only one spot on the circumference of its 

 coast, where a safe landing can be effected, and water is 

 extremely scarce. Its principal products are like those of 

 Gomera, but less abundant. Its chief town is La Villa de 

 Valverde. 



Santa Cruz de Teneriffe, Fridaj', ( 

 October 11, 1833. ) 



