42 



DRAGON-TREE OF OROTAVA. 



Dragon-tree of Orotava. 



as our travellers found it. As the species is of very 

 slow growth, the age of this individual must be great. 

 It is singular that the dragon-tree should have been 

 cultivated in these islands at so early a period, it 

 being a native of India, and nowhere occurring on 

 the African continent. 



Leaving Orotava they passed by a narrow and 

 stony path through a beautiful wood of chestnuts to 

 a place covered with brambles, laurels, and arbores- 

 cent heaths, where, under a solitary pine, known by 

 the name of Pino del Dornajito, they procured a 

 supply of water. From this place to the crater they 

 continued to ascend without crossing a single valley, 

 passing over several regions distinguished by their 

 peculiar vegetation, and rested during part of the 

 night in a very elevated position, where they suffered 



