OF LA PEROtJSE. Ij 



All the ftones which we had hitherto met 

 with had undergone the action of fire. As thefe 

 mountains of middling elevation, are compofed 

 of great mafles, which, at the time of their fu- 

 fion, mull have long preferved an extraordinary 

 degree of heat, I naturally expected to find the 

 lava very compact. Indeed it is fo ; its grain 

 is very fine, and its mofl ufual colour is a 

 dark brown. 



In the midfl of thefe volcanic fragments we 

 experienced great heat, which incommoded our 

 guides much more than us ; accordingly they 

 employed every means of perfuafion to induce 

 us to halt during the whole day, in order to 

 travel only by night. They probably imagined 

 that we had no other intention than to fee the 

 fummit of the Peak. Such a plan of travelling 

 would not have difpleafed feveral of our party ; 

 but it was not difficult to make them fenfible 

 that this nocturnal vitit could not fuitnaturalifts. 



The inhabitants of this ifland are from their 

 birth overwhelmed by religious prejudices. Chil- 

 dren came out of their houfes to alk us if we 

 were of their religion : we contented ourfelves 

 with pitying thefe unfortunate beings, over 

 whom fanaticifm and monaftic intolerance exer- 

 cife, with fo much power, their dangerous fway. 



The pretty fern, known by the name of tri- 

 comanes Canar'i 'en fe, clothes moft of the walls which 



ferve 



