294 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



neighbourhood of the volcano and lava streams. 

 The whole of the low country below looked beauti- 

 fully undulating, and all around were scattered 

 picturesque valleys and hamlets, green woods, vine- 

 yards and fields, whilst the indented iron-bound 

 coast glistened with the richest colours in the rays 

 of the setting sun. 



Our guides pointed out the distant Islands of 

 Palma, Grand Canary, Gomero and Hiero, and 

 we could see the loom of the land, but could not 

 distinguish the outline of Lancerote and Forte 

 Ventura. 



It was a beautiful sunset, and the deep blue 

 colour of the sea, with here and there a distant 

 white sail, formed a magnificent back-ground to 

 the glorious panorama then stretched before us. I 

 have gazed upon many of Nature's most gorgeous 

 pictures in different parts of the world, but never 

 beheld anything more transcendently beautiful 

 than sunset from the highest summit of the Peak 

 of Teneriffe, 12,176 feet above the level of the 

 sea. 



We were not the only living creatures in this 



