48 OROTAVA. 
Dragon-tree of Orotava. 
who thought that the Canary Islands afford the most — 
suitable place for naturalizing the plants of the East 
and West Indies, previous to their introduction to 
Europe. They arrived very late at the port, and 
next morning commenced their journey to the Peak, 
accompanied by M. Le Gros, M. Lalande, secretary 
of the French eonsulate at Santa Cruz, the English 
gardener of Durasno, and a number of guides. 
Orotava, the Taoro of the Guanches, is situated 
on a very steep declivity, and has a pleasant aspect 
when viewed from a distance, although the houses, 
when seen at hand, have a gloomy appearance. One 
of the most remarkable objects in this place is the 
dragon-tree in the garden of M. Franqui, of which 
an engraving is here presented, and which our tra- 
