qn 
DEPARTURE FROM CORUNNA. 2 
CHAPTER II. 
Voyage from Corunna to Teneriffe. 
Departure from Corunna—Currents of the Atlantic Ocean—Ma- - 
rine Animals—Falling Stars—Swallows—Canary Islands—Lan- 
cerota—Fucus vitifolius—Causes of the Green Colour of Plants 
—lLa Graciosa—Stratified Basalt alternating with Marl—Hya- 
lite— Quartz Sand—Remarks on the Distance at which Mountains 
are visible at Sea, and the Causes by which it is modified—Land- 
ing at Teneriffe. 
Tue wind having come round to the north-east, 
the Pizarro set sail on the afternoon of the 5th of 
June 1799, and after working out of the narrow 
passage passed the Tower of Hercules, or light- 
house of Corunna, at half-past six. Towards even- 
ing the wind increased, and the sea ran high. They 
directed their course to the north-west, for the pur- 
pose of avoiding the English frigates which were 
cruising off the coast, and about nine spied the fire 
of a fishing-hut at Lisarga, which was the last ob- 
ject they beheld in the west of Europe. As they 
advanced, the light mingled itself with the stars 
which rose on the horizon. “ Our eyes,” says Hum- 
boldt, “ remained involuntarily fixed upon it. Such 
impressions do not fade from the memory of those 
who have undertaken long voyages at an age when 
the emotions of the heart are in full force. How 
many recollections are awakened in the imagination 
