42 SCENERY — DUUASNO. 



CHAP. iiL the agave and cactus. Multitudes of cryptogamic plants, 

 rian~ i-specially ferns, cover the walls. In winter, while tlie 

 volcano is wrajiped in snow, there is continued spring in 

 this beautiful ciistrict ; and in summer, towards evening, 

 the sea-breezes diffuse a gentle coolness over it. From 

 Teguestc and Tacoronte to the village of San Juan de la 

 Ranibla, the coast is cultivated like a garden, and might 

 lie compared to the neighbourliood of Capua or Valcntia ; 

 but tlie western part of Teneriffe is much more beautiful, 

 on account of the proximity of the Peak, the sight of 

 Volcanic which has a most imposing effect, and excites the ima- 

 action gination to penetrate into the mysterious source of 



volcanic action. For thousands of years no light has 

 been observed at the summit of the mountain, and yet 

 enormous lateral eruptions, the last of which happened 

 in 1798, prove tlie activity of a fire wiiicli is far from 

 being extinct. There is, besides, something melancholy 

 in the sight of a crater placed in the midst of a fertile 

 and highly cultivated country. 

 Mantanza Pursuing their course to the port of Orotava, the 



ai.J \-ittoiij. travellers passed the beautiful hamlets of Matanza and 

 Vittoria (slaughter and victory), — names which occur 

 together in all the Spanish colonies, and present a dis- 

 agreeable contrast to the feelings of peace and quiet 

 which these countries inspire. On their way they 

 Prfitanic visited a botanic garden at Durasno, where they found 

 Lu. jyj_ T^^ Gros, the French vice-consul, who subsequently 



served as an excellent guide to the Peak. The idea of 

 forming such an establishment at TenerifFe originated 

 witli the Marquis de Nava, who thought that the Canary 

 Inlands afford the most suital)]e place for naturalizing 

 tlie j)lants of the East and West Indies, previous to 

 their introduction to Europe. They arrived very late 

 nt the port, and next morning commenced their journey 

 to the Peak, accompanied by M. Le Gros, M. Lalande, 

 secretary of the French consulate at Santa Cruz, the 

 English gardener of Dura-sno, and a numl)er of guides. 

 Orjur.. Orotava, the 'I'aoro of the Guanches, is situated on a 



verv hteej) declivity, and lias a pleasant aspect wlien 



