TENERIFFE. 
23 
aloft in stupendous majesty above the regions of the 
clouds, from the deep deep waters of the ocean, that 
the beholder cannot but regard it with sensations akin 
to awe ; nor will his admiration lose one tittle of its 
solemnity upon a closer view of the ragged cliffs, 
which are composed of calcined rocks and lava, torn 
and distorted into countless irregular and mysterious 
forms. 
The mountain is computed by M. de Humboldt 
to be 12,198 English feet in height, and to be gene- 
rally visible at sea from a distance of 130 miles ; but 
we have the authority of most voyagers for stating, 
that at certain seasons the peak is to be seen at the 
almost incredible distance of 200 miles. This, how- 
ever, is during those months when the atmosphere is 
pretty fully charged with moisture, so that the refrac- 
tion renders it visible at a very much greater distance 
than would appear possible by calculation from its 
height. In the dry sunny months of July and Au- 
gust, when seldom even a silver wreath of cloud is 
seen to stray across the clear canopy of heaven, or more 
than a gentle breath of air to ripple the bright surface 
of the ocean, the peak, when first descried, assumes a 
very singular appearance. 
Perchance the far-sighted mariner has discovered it, 
while to the unpractised landsman there is still nil nisi 
pontus et aer, until the vessel stealing softly onward 
under the almost imperceptible influence of the breeze, 
has brought it within scope of his comparatively ob- 
