N E W S O U T PI W A L E S. 2 
polTeffion to Spain, and an excellent refource to voy- ^" 
agers of all nations, contain no wonders, except what ^"""^ ' 
belong naturally to volcanic mountains fucli as the Peak, 
which, though it always threatens, has not nov/ been 
noxious for more than eighty years . . ' . ■ ■ 
The capital of TenerifFe is Lagiina^ or more properly 
San chrijloval de la Lagtma, St. ChriJJopher of the Lake^ 
fo called from its lituation near a lake. Both this and 
Santa Cruz are built of ftone, but the appearance of , 
the latter is more pleafing than that of Laguna. They 
are diftant from each other about four miles. The 
capital of the Great Canary, and properly of the whole , ■ 
government, is tbe City of Palms : But that place has been - 
for fome time the centre of ecclefiafcical government 
only. The cuftom of reckoning the firft meridian as 
paffing through thefe illes was begun by Ptolemy ; and 
perhaps it is ftill to be wiilied that the French regu- 
lations on that fubjecl were generally adopted. 
Our fliips were at length preparing to depart, when on June 9th, 
1 78J. 
the evening of the 9th of June, a convi6t belonging to the 
Alexander, having been employed on deck, found means to 
cut away the boat, and make a temporary efcape ; but he 
was miffed and foon retaken. It is not probable that he had 
* See Captain GlafTe's elaborate account of the Ciinr.ries, r.nd Captain Cook's 
laft Voyage. 
formed 
