glittering buildings sent back the burning rays of the almost
vertical sun. Thus fired and scorched, we could not help gazing with a
somewhat envious glance into some of the Moorish-looking houses, not
unlike the model of the Alhambra or the Pompeian house at the Crystal
Palace, only not quite so fine as the former, with bananas growing in
the centre of their court-yards, and fountains throwing up cool jets of
water, and shady corridors and alcoves, the widespreading leaves of the
banana throwing a refreshing coolness around. Having heard that Santa
Cruz was a very poor place, we were astonished to find it really a fine
city with handsome houses, spreading backwards a considerable distance
from the sea, with gardens and villas beyond, and outside all cactus
plantations and cultivated terraces rising up the slopes of the
mountains. I was proceeding with Mr Henley in search of the consul,
who was to arrange matters about the ship, when I felt a hand placed on
my shoulder, and I heard a voice say--

"Halloa, old fellow!--Marsden! what wind has brought you here in that
rig?"

"A pretty stiff gale," I answered, looking up and recognising an old
school-fellow, Tom Lumsden, who, though older than Alfred, was a great
friend of his.

"Come along, then, and tell me all about it," said he. "I have an uncle
settled here, and I have been sent out to learn business with him. Come
and stay with us while your ship remains here. He'll get you leave from
the captain. You can spare him us?" he added, addressing Mr Henley,
who laughed, and said that he hoped I should always find friends
wherever I went.

Lumsden at once got his uncle to send off a note to the captain, who
replied in the most courteous way that I was welcome to remain as long
as the ship was there.

"Capital!" exclaimed Lumsden. "We were on the point of starting up the
peak just for a pic-nic of three or four days. The ship won't sail
before that time. You shall go with us."

Of course I was delighted. We were to start after an early dinner, and
in the interval Lumsden took me round the place to show me its lions. I
can only venture to give a rapid and brief summary of what I saw and
heard. The Canaries were known to the ancients, and were called the
fortunate or happy isles. Their present name is derived from _Canis_--
dogs of a peculiar breed having been found in them. The inhabitants
were a fine and brave race, of whom little is known except that th