Voyage vf Dlscoi^eri/. 'i^f 



found an animal which has hitherto been considered as a 

 plant, because we were acquainted with it only in its dry 

 i«tatc. I have also seen muminies found in caverns near 

 St. Andre, and whiclv must have belonged to the forme? 

 inhabitants of the country. For three days past I have been 

 ridinir up and down the n)ountains. The sea shore at 

 Orotrava i\as furnished me with se\X'ral interesting^ objects, 

 as well as that of Poa, Sausal, and Santa Cruz. The 

 greatest number of new species I found among the sea 

 hedge-hogs,, sea stars, polypes, and other molliisea. 



The sod of the island i.s entirely volcanic. There arc 

 here a great many varieties oi' lava. The marquis of Cassi- 

 cahigal, the governor of the island, who resides at Santa 

 Cruz, received us with great kindness and hospitalit)', and 

 gave us letters of reconmuzudatioa to Orotrava. He showed 

 us his two gardens at Santa Cruz, where we found many 

 rare plants, some of whith our ambassador,. M, Resanof 

 Saniercyen requested for Itis iiugerial. majesty^ The great 

 botanical garden, however, formed by the marquis delSova, 

 who resides at Laguna, iu this island, exceeded our expec- 

 tation; it was laid out in the year 1795, close to the town 

 of Orotrava. The marquis sent for an experienced gardener 

 from England, named Cornelius Macmanus. This intelli- 

 gent man amused us a whole forenoon with showing us 

 proofs of liis industry} he is a good botanist and has studied 

 Linnaeus: he makes frequent excursioiis ^o the interior 

 parts of the country, and has already discovered several new 

 African species. I have writtea a catalogue of them. In 

 regard to the history of the country I have cojlccted some 

 excellent materials towards it : I have delineated an antient 

 juoiiument, and copied an ijiscription which relate to the 

 liislory of 'I'enerifT. 



Tlie old Caanches, the former inhabitaats of the Canary 

 islands, whose nmmmies arc still found sewed into sheep's 

 skins, in holes of the rocks of mount Altobasso, Sausai, 

 and St. Andre, and al^so in the Grand Canary are in 

 their original dress, each with a thigh bone in its lumd, 

 and the head crowned with flowers; they are clothed in thi^ 

 skins of animals each at the side of its monument. At 

 the top of the monument stands the Santa Maria de Can- 

 dellera. I have also delineated several picturesque and re- 

 markable objects, such as landskips, dresses, towns, and 

 productions of the island, and constructed maps which 

 v\ ill be complctetl on my return. The greater part of the 

 raritic.-- 1 collected myself, and tlic productions of the peak 

 \vtre givf-n to me by the captain (>f an Amtricau ship, wlio 



made 



