122 



to scale the summit of the peak, if the snows 

 did not prevent our ascent, we received notice, 

 on account of the blockade of the English ships, 

 not to hope a longer delay than that of four or 

 five days. We consequently hastened our de- 

 parture for the port of Orotava, which is situate 

 on the western declivity of the volcano, where we 

 were sure of finding guides. I could find no 

 one at Santa Cruz, who had mounted the peak, 

 and I was not surprised at this. The most cu- 

 rious objects become less interesting, in propor- 

 tion as they are placed nearer to us; and I 

 have known inhabitants of SchafFhaussen, in 

 Switzerland, who had never seen the fall of the 

 Rhine but at a distance. 



The 20th of June, before sunrise, we began 

 our excursion by ascending to the Villa de La- 

 guna, elevated 350 toises* above the port of San- 

 ta Cruz. We could not verify this estimation of 

 the height, the surf not having permitted us to 

 return on board during the night, to take our ba- 

 rometers and dipping needle. As we foresaw, 

 that our expedition to the Peak would be very 

 precipitate, we consoled ourselves easily with the 

 idea of not exposing instruments, which were to 

 serve us in countries less known by Europeans. 

 The road by which we ascended to Lagunais on 

 the right of a torrent, or baranco, which in the 



* This estimation is but an approximation. See the note 

 at the end of the third chapter. 



