106 CANARY ISLANDS. 



broom behind the door is also a sure way '' to send a witch 

 packing," if she attempts to enter a house, where her first 

 act would be to suck the breath out of any infant that she 

 might meet. The sudden death of little children is 

 always attributed by the vulgar, to this practise of the 

 witches. 



A great source of dread to all classes of people, is the 

 cry of a bird which they call cl apagador, (the extin- 

 guisher) from the resemblance of its note to that word 

 pronounced in a peculiarly harsh manner. This bird is a 

 species of owl and m.akes its appearance only in the night, 

 and often may be seen by moon-light, skimming over the 

 roofs of the houses, which is regarded as a sure forerun- 

 ner of the death of some of the inmates of the dwelling 

 that it frequents. 



Many of the peasant women on the north-western side 

 of Teneriffe, protect themselves by the wearing of as many 

 crucifixes, images, and amulets, about their person as 

 they can procure, which they consider as charms, against 

 every accident and disease, that mortality is heir to. 



Amusements. Like their parent stock, the Spaniards, 

 and other southern nations, these islanders are not at all a 

 domestic people : indeed, the climate leads them, in 

 general, to prefer such amusements as can be enjoyed in 

 the open air, in the cool of evening, which bring on very 

 diiferent habits, from those which originate around 



" Our own family and fire, 

 Where love our hours employs j 

 No noisy noighbor enters here, 

 No intermotkllin^ stranger near, 

 To spoil our heartfelt joys," 



As there are but few places of public amusement in 

 these islands, and there being but little taste for literature, 

 or the cultivation of any of the fine arts, except music, 

 the diversions of the inhabitants are principally circum- 

 scribed to frequenting the squares or public walks in the 

 afternoon, and to attending Zr/s tertvlias, or evening assem- 

 blies. These in many respects, are extremely agreeable, 

 as no invitation is necessary. Every person who is in the 

 habit of visiting a house at any other time, is at liberty to 

 walk in, whenever a party of this kind is held, stay as long • 



