TENERIFFE. 53 
the globe — an island which, if inhabited by an industrious 
and intelligent race of men, and governed bj just and salutary 
laws, would not only afford the means of subsistence for 
eighteen or twenty thousand families, which may be some- 
where about its present population, but might be made to 
produce an abundant supply of valuable commodities for the 
markets of Europe ; such as, for instance, in addition to its 
wines, silk, cotton, olive oil, and dried fruits. All the hilly 
country is said to be well adapted for the growth of almonds, 
and the deep ravines for that of chesnuts. Its fisheries on the 
opposite coast of Africa might be carried on to almost any 
extent, and a very considerable source of trade created by the 
article of salted fisii alone. But although on commercial con- 
siderations the Canary Islands are capable of much im- 
provement, and the condition of their inhabitants of being 
greatly meliorated and the population extended ; and al- 
though they are situated in the direct track of all the outward- 
bound fleets for India and the Southern Whale Fishery, they 
do not appear of much importance to any power either in a 
naval or political point of view. Their situation is too near 
the coasts of Europe to break the length of an Indian voyage 
with any advantage ; and there is neither a secure bay nor 
any harbour for large ships in the whole groupe. The soil, 
however, on most of them is good, and extremely well suited 
for the cultivation of the vine, and of various kinds of grain 
and pulse ; and the climate is deliglitful beyond that perhaps 
of any other country on tlie suiface of the globe. During 
our stay on the island, which was certainly hut short, the 
thermometer of Fahrenheit never descended below 70", nor 
rose beyond 76"°, generally remaining aliout T'l" ; and we 
