GUANCiirs. .30 



niition of temperature. In fact, tlie perpetual coolness chap, ul 

 which exists here renders it a delightful residence. It LaKuua 

 is situated in a small plain, surrounded by gardens, and 

 commanded by a hill crowned with the laurel, tlie myrth', 

 and the arbutus. The rain, in collecting, forms from 

 time to time a kind of large pool or marsh, which has 

 induced travellers to describe the capital of TenerifFe as 

 situated on the margin of a lake. Tlie town, which was 

 deprived of its opulence in consequence of the port of 

 Garachico having been destroyed by the lateral erup- 

 tions of the volcano, has only 9000 inhabitants, of which 

 aliout 400 are monks. It is surrounded by numerous com wind- 

 windmills for corn. Humboldt observes, that the cereal "''"*• 

 grasses were known to the original inhabitants, and that 

 parched barley flour and goat's milk formed their prin- 

 cipal meals. This food tends to show that they were 

 connected with the nations of the Old Continent, perhaps 

 even with those of the Caucasian race, and not with the 

 inhabitants of the New World, who, previous to the 

 arrival of the Europeans among them, had no knowledge 

 of grain, milk, or cheese. 



The Canary Islands were originally inhabited by Guanches. 

 a people famed for their tall stature, and knovvn by the 

 name of Guanches. They have now entirely disappeared 

 under the oppression of a more powerful and more en- 

 lightened race, which, assuming the superiority supposed 

 to be sanctioned by civilisation and the profession of the 

 Christian faith, disposed of the natives in a manner little 

 accordant with the character of a true follower of the 

 cross. The archipelago of the Canaries was divided Tiieir 

 into small states hostile to eacli other ; and in the M- ment. 

 teenth century, the Spaniards and Portuguese made 

 voyages to these islands for slaves, as the Europeans 

 have latterly been accustomed to do to the coast of 

 Guinea. One Guanche then became the property of 

 another, who sold him to the dealers ; while many, 

 rather than become slaves, killed their children and 

 themselves. The natives had been greatly reduced in 

 this manner, when Alonzo de Lugo completed their 



