CHAP. V - ARRIVAL ON GUAJARA

Summary

Soon after 10 o'clock, a.m., we were again meandering in long broken line on our upward way, with the clouds below, and a brilliant sun shining above. It was splendid climbing; a mountain ascent made very easy, was this riding up the gentle slope. Here we were, already at a height considerably above the top of Table Mountain,—to compare one of the islands with the continent, of Africa,—whose vertical precipices begin at half its height. But on Teneriffe, for upwards of 6000 feet, are still no greater average angles than 12° to contend with; and in most places so much soft soil, that after a shower of rain, there would be little difficulty in turning furrows with the plough, over a considerable part of the surface.

At 10h. 50m. we had reached a height of 4700 feet, and the first specimen was met with, of an interesting leguminous plant, to which we were afterwards to be greatly obliged, the “codeso” of the natives; the “adenocarpus frankenoides” of botanists. With closely packed composite leaves of light and warm green, a yellow flower, woody stem, branches like a miniature cedar tree, and with the bark of ages hanging about it, this specimen of the “legumineuses frutescentes” of the French savants, bore a certain acting resemblance to the “doorn booms,” or thorny acacias of South Africa, whose place it appeared to supply.