288 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



The next morning, we breakfasted before day- 

 break, and mounting our mules, as soon as it was 

 light enough to see our way, set off for the Pico del 

 Teyde, accompanied by two guides, named Gomez 

 and Manuel, also mounted, and a boy with a mule 

 to carry our provision and overcoats. 



Passing along an English - looking lane, with 

 high blackberry-bush hedges on each side, the 

 first part of our route led through gardens, fields 

 of cactus, vineyards, and orchards of mulberry, 

 peach, and pear trees ; then we traversed a beau- 

 tiful chestnut grove, and in about two hours 

 arrived at a little ravine, where, under the shade of 

 an ancient-looking myrtle, a little stream bubbled 

 up in an amphitheatre of green sward. Here we 

 halted a few minutes, filled a goat-skin with water 

 for use on the road, and allowed the mules to 

 drink ; then continuing our route, we passed a belt 

 of luxuriant ferns and heaths, after which we 

 entered the *' Llano del Retama," a desolate look- 

 ing waste, where nothing grows save the dreary- 

 looking leafless retama bush, which looks more 

 like a bundle of dead sticks than a plant. We 



