Ancient Itihabitants of the Canary Islands. 379 



Chaplains of Betkencourt, the contemporaries of the first con- 

 quest, which took place early in the sixteenth century, thus 

 expressed themselves : — " Go all over the Avorld, and you will 

 not find finer or better formed people. They have great capa- 

 city, if they had but instruction. Their women are very beau- 

 tiful, and wear their hair tied in tresses behind. This people 

 are of high stature ; they can scarcely be taken alive, for they 

 run like hares." 



Cadamosto, who relates that some of the islanders were oc- 

 casionally taken and sold as slaves, says, " that they ran and 

 bounded among rocks and precipices with the lightness of 

 goats, and their leaps were beyond belief; that they had also 

 great strength of arms, and that they could throw with the 

 greatest precision." He adds, " I hence conclude, that this 

 race of men is the most skilful and active in the world." 



Viana, who published in 1604, says, " Les Guanches 

 etaient des gens vertueux, honnetes et braves ; en eux se trou- 

 vaient reunies les plus belles qualites : magnaniniste, adresse 

 et courage, formes athletiques, force d'ame et de corps, fierte 

 de caractere, noblesse de maintien, physiognomie riante, esprit 

 intelligent et devouement patriotique.'' 



Though it is recorded by the Chaplains that they had 

 strongly-built houses and fortifications, it is believed that many 

 of the inhabitants took advantage of the several caverns which 

 abounded in the country, and lived as troglodytes. The natives 

 of a part of Fortaventura, were remarkable for the height of 

 their stature. The natives of Ferrol are said to have been of 

 middle stature ; those of Gomer resemble them in this respect, 

 but are renowned for their strength and activity, which was 

 particvdarly shewn in the address with which they avoided 

 missile weapons. 



The Guauchee females are also said to have been remark- 

 able for their strength and courage. When the Spaniards had 

 Lmded at Tazacorte, Guarinfanta opposed them. At first she 

 was obliged to fiy by their number ; but she deceived them 

 by a feigned flight, and retracing her steps, seized one of them 

 and carried him off, and was about to throw herself over a pre- 

 cipice with him, when eight soldiers overpowered her. The 

 M'omen of Palma were, for the most part, of manly courage, 



