-»« «• 
i77 6 - 
Aug uiL 
A VOYAGE TO 
otherwiie, I had propofed to vifit the top of this famous 
mountain *. 
To the eaftward of Santa Cruz, the ifland appears per¬ 
fectly barren. Ridges of hills run toward the fea; between 
which ridges are deep valleys, terminating at mountains or 
hills that run acrofs, and are higher than the former. 
Thofe that run toward the fea, are marked by impreffions 
on their tides, which make them appear as a fucceffion of 
conic hills, with their tops very rugged. The higher ones 
that run acrofs, are more uniform in their appearance. 
- In the forenoon of the ift of Auguft, after we had an¬ 
chored in the road, I went on fliore to one of thefe valleys, 
with an intention to reach the top of the remoter hills, 
which feemed covered with wood; but time would not 
allow me to get farther than their foot. After walking 
about three miles, I found no alteration in the appearance 
of the lower hills; which produce great quantities of the 
euphorbia Canarienfis. It is furpriling that this large fuccu- 
lent plant, fhould thrive on fo burnt-up a foil. When broken, 
which is ealily done, the quantity of juice is very great; 
and it might be fuppofed that, when dried, it would Ihrivel 
to nothing ; yet it is a pretty tough, though foft and light 
wood. The people here believe its juice to be fo cauftic as 
* See an account of a journey to the top of the Pic of TenerifFe, in Sprat’s Hi/lory 
cf the Royal Society , p. 200, &c. Glas alfo went to the top of it. Hi/lory of the Canary 
Iflands , p. 252 to 259. In the Philofophical Tranfadtions, vol. xlvii. p. 353—356, we 
have Ohfervations made , in going up the Pic of Tenerif e, by Dr. T. Heberden. The Dodtor 
makes its height, above the level of the fea, to be 2566 fathoms, or 15,396 Englifh feet; 
and fays, that this was confirmed by two fubfequent obfervations by himfelf, and another 
made by Mr. Crofie, the Conful. And yet, I find, that the Chevalier de Borda, who 
meafured the height of this mountain in Auguft 1776, makes it to be only 1931 French 
toifes, or 12,340 Englifh feet. See Doctor Forfter’s Obfervations during a Voyage round 
the World , p. 32. 
to 
