VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. 



45 



crystals of felspar, which are seldom vitreous. In 

 the middle of the Malpays, or second platform, are 

 found, among the glassy kinds, blocks of greenish- 

 gray clinkstone or porphyry-slate. Obsidian of sev- 

 eral varieties is exceedingly 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. 



The oldest written testimony in regard to the ac- 

 tivity 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, 1646, and 1677, eruptions took 

 place in the Isle of Palma ; and on the 31st Decem- 

 ber, 1704, the Peak of Teneriffe exhibited a lateral 

 burst, preceded by tremendous earthquakes. On 

 the 5th January, 1705, another opening occurred, the 

 lavas produced by which filled the whole valley of 

 Fasnia. This aperture closed on the 13th January ; 

 but on the 2d February, a third formed in the Can- 

 nada 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 Peak 

 emitted a great quantity of matter, which continued 

 to run three months and six days. 



The island of Teneriffe presents five zones of vege- 

 tation, arranged in stages one above another, and 

 occupying a perpendicular height of 3730 yards. 



I. The Region of Vines i xtends from the shores to 

 an elevation varying fron 430 to 640 yards, and is 

 the only part carefully cul vated. It exhibits vari- 

 ous species of arborescent Euphorbiae, Mesembryan- 

 thema, the Cacalia kleinia, the Dracoena, and other 

 plants, whose naked and tortuous trunks, succulent 

 leaves, and bluish-green tints, constitute features 

 distinctive of the vegetation of Africa. In this 



