141 



to see but a small portion of the objects which 

 allure them, they are disturbed in their enjoy- 

 ments by the restraints they impose on them- 

 selves at every step* 



On the morning of the 2 1st of June, we were 

 already on the road for the summit of the vol- 

 cano. Mr. Le Gros, whose attentions were un- 

 wearied, Mr. Lalande, secretary of the French 

 Consulate at Santa Cruz, and the English gar- 

 dener at Durasno, shared in the fatigues of this 

 excursion. The day was not very fine, and the 

 summit of the peak, which is generally visible 

 at Orotava from sunrise till ten o'clock, was co- 

 vered with thick clouds. There is only one path 

 to the volcano, by the Villa de Orotava, the Plain 

 of Spartium, and the Malpais ; it is this which 

 was taken by father Feuillee, Borda, La Billar- 

 diere, Barrow, and all late travellers, who have 

 made but a short stay at Teneriffe. In an ex- 

 cursion to the peak, as well as in those which 

 are commonly made in the valley of Chamouni 

 and to the top of Etna, where we are forced to 

 follow the guide, we see almost nothing but what 

 has been already seen and described by former 

 travellers. 



We were agreeably surprised by the contrast 

 between the vegetation of this part of Teneriffe, 

 and that of the environs of Santa Cruz. Under 

 the influence of a cool and humid climate, the 

 ground was covered with beautiful verdure ; 



