THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
*3 
to erode the fkin*; but I convinced them, though with 1776. 
much difficulty, to the contrary, by thrufting my finger , Auguii t 
into the plant full of it, without afterward wiping it off. 
They break down the bullies of euphorbia , and buffering 
them to dry, carry them home for fuel. I met with nothing, 
elfe growing there, but two or three fmall fhrubs, and a 
few fig-trees near the bottom of the valley. 
The balls of the hills is a heavy, compact, blueilh ftone, 
mixed with fome Ihining particles; and, on the furface, 
large maffes of red friable earth, or ftone, are fcattered 
about. I alfo often found the fame fubftance difpofed in 
thick Jlrata ; and the little earth, ftrewed here and there, 
w r as a blackilh mould. There were likewife fome pieces of 
flag; one of which, from its weight and fmooth furface, 
feemed almoft wholly metalline. 
The mouldering ftate of thefe hills is, doubtlefs, owing 
to the perpetual acftion of the fun, which calcines their fur¬ 
face. This mouldered part being afterward walked away 
by the heavy rains, perhaps is the caufe of their fides be¬ 
ing fo uneven. For, as the different fubftances of which 
they are compoied, are more or lefs eafily affedted by the 
fun’s heat, they will be carried away in the like propor¬ 
tions. Hence, perhaps, the tops of the hills, being of the 
hardeft rock, have flood, while the other parts on a decli¬ 
vity have been deftroyed. As I have ufually obferved, that 
the tops of moft mountains that are covered with trees 
have a more uniform appearance, I am inclined to believe 
that this is owing to their being fhaded. 
The city of Santa Cruz, though not large, is tolerably 
* Glafsj p. 231, fpeaking of this plant, fays, that he cannot imagine why the natives 
of the Canaries do not extract the juice , and ufe it injiead of pitchy for the bottoms of their boats . 
We now learn from Mr. Anderfon their reafon for not ufing it. 
well 
