4(; 



VOLCANIC KlUPTIONS. 



Accounts of 

 eruptions. 



CHAP. III. vitli a basis of pitch-stone and obsidian, of a blacl<isli- 

 ~ brown or deep olive-green colour, and containing crystals 

 of felspar, which are seldom vitreous. In the middle of 

 the Malpays or second j)latform are found, amongst the 

 glassy kinds, blocks of greenish-gray clinkstone or 

 porphyry-slate. Obsidian of several varieties is exceed- 

 ingly abundant on the Peak, as well as pumice, the 

 latter being generally of a white colour ; and the crater 

 contains an enormous quantity of sulphur. 



Tlie oldest written testimony, in regard to the activity 

 of the volcano, dates at the beginning of the sixteenth 

 century, and is contained in the narrative of Aloysio 

 Cadamusto, who landed in the Canaries in 1505. In 

 1558, 164(5, and 1677, eruptions took place in the isle of 

 Pal ma; and on the 31st December 1704, the Peak of 

 Tencriffe exlii])ited a lateral burst, preceded by tremen- 

 dous earthquakes. On the 5th of January 1705, another 

 opening occurred, the lavas produced by which filled 

 the whole valley of Fasnia. This aperture closed on 

 the 13th of January; but on the 2d of February, a 

 third furmcd in the Canada de Arafo, the stream from 

 which divided into three currents. On the 5th May 

 1706, another eruption supervened, which destroyed the 

 populous and opulent city of Garachico. In 1730, on 

 the 1st September, the island of Lancerota was violently 

 convulsed ; and on the 9th June 1798, the IVak emitted 

 a great quantity of matter, which continued to run three 

 months and six days. 



The island of Teneriffe presents five zones of vegeta- 

 tion, arranged in stages one above another, and occupy- 

 ing a i)0<-pendicular height of 3730 yards. 



1. The Region of Vines extends from the shores to an 

 elevation varying from 430 to 040 yards, and is the 

 only part carefully cultivated. It exhibits various 

 sjiecies of arl)orescent Eujihorbiae, Mesembryanthcma, 

 tlie Cacalia kleinia, tlie DraccEua, and other plants, 

 whose naked and tortuous trunks, succulent leaves, and 

 bluish-green tints, constitute features distinctive of the 

 viyctjition of Africa. In this zone are raised the datc- 



7M\\ts of 

 I i;;;etution 



