1866. | Teneriffe. 13 
hours’ climb before we could arrive at the foot of that part of it 
where the ascent was to commence. ‘The view on our right was a 
novelty to a person who had not been accustomed to ascend great 
elevations. The valleys below were filled with vapours, whilst 
over the sea and the regions above were quite clear. Objects 
below were unusually refracted ; two brigantines, which were at a 
considerable distance, presented inverted images of some of their 
parts; but what was very singular, they appeared to alter their 
form as I changed my position; sometimes the masts and vessel 
appeared as if they were separated, then the masts touched each 
other, and afterwards rapidly increased in length, presenting quite 
a distorted appearance. After we had ascended a short distance, this 
refraction or mirage went off, and the vessels assumed their natural 
appearance. 
The Cafiadas del Pico (see Plate I.) is an immense plain of an 
ancient crater, covered with yellow and white pumice, extending 
round the Peak from W.S.W. to E. by N., forming part of an 
ellipsis 8 miles by 7, or 23 miles in circumference. The surface 
near the foot of the Peak is 8,957 feet above the level of the 
sea; rather towards one side of this plain or crater, in latitude 
28°17’ N., and longitude 16° 39’ 45” W., rises the Peak to 
a further elevation of 3,243 feet, or 12,200 feet above the level 
of the sea. 
This plain is surrounded by nearly vertical walls of lava, which 
would debar all possible entrance if they had not been broken 
across in some places by a great convulsion of nature; the one by 
which we entered is very aptly named by the natives Hi Peréillo, the 
little gateway. The surface is dotted over with masses of reddish 
coloured and black trachyte and phonolite, which apparently are 
erratic masses, but on close inspection, it can be seen in many 
places that they are in some degree circular, and are very probably 
the tops of extinct craters, or rents of more modern date than the 
great plain or crater. These Cafiadas form the only road of 
communication between the northern and southern parts of the 
island, but during the winter season they are sometimes impassable 
from the great depth of snow. 
We passed a small extinct volcano, called Montaiia Negra (black 
mountain), but more generally known by the name of Los Gorros ; 
in it are several caves, which are used as ice-houses by the men 
who supply Santa Cruz and the other towns with snow; they 
collect it at the foot of the Peak at certain seasons of the year; 
when they cannot obtain it there, they go up to the Cueva de 
Hielo, which is 2,131 feet higher up, or 11,098 feet above the level 
of the sea. 
At mid-day we arrived at the foot of the Peak, where we left 
our mules with some fodder we brought up for them. We 
