inhabitants of Laguna. This city
is called Laguna from hence; for that word in Spanish signifies a lake or
pond. The plain is bounded on the west, the north-west and the south-west
with high steep hills; as high above this plain as this is above the sea;
and it is from the foot of one of these mountains that the water of the
conduit which supplies the town is conveyed over the plain in troughs of
stone raised upon pillars. And indeed, considering the situation of the
town, its large prospect to the east (for from hence you see the Grand
Canary) its gardens, cool arbors, pleasant plain, green fields, the pond
and aqueduct, and its refreshing breezes; it is a very delightful
dwelling, especially for such as have not business that calls them far
and often from home: for, the island being generally mountainous, steep,
and craggy, full of risings and fallings, it is very troublesome
travelling up and down in it, unless in the cool of the mornings and
evenings: and mules and asses are most used by them, both for riding and
carriage, as fittest for the stony, uneven roads.

Beyond the mountains, on the south-west side, still further up, you may
see from the town and plain a small peaked hill, overlooking the rest.
This is that which is called the Pike of Tenerife, so much noted for its
height: but we saw it here at so great a disadvantage, by reason of the
nearness of the adjacent mountains to us, that it looked inconsiderable
in respect to its fame.

OF THE WINES AND OTHER COMMODITIES OF TENERIFE, ETC.

The true malmsey wine grows in this island; and this here is said to be
the best of its kind in the world. Here is also canary wine, and verdona,
or green wine. The canary grows chiefly on the west side of the island;
and therefore is commonly sent to Oratavia; which being the chief seaport
for trade in the island, the principal English merchants reside there,
with their consul; because we have a great trade for this wine. I was
told that that town is bigger than Laguna; that it has but one church,
but many convents: that the port is but ordinary at best and is very bad
when the north-west winds blow. These norwesters give notice of their
coming by a great sea that tumbles in on the shore for some time before
they come, and by a black sky in the north-west. Upon these signs ships
either get up their anchors, or slip their cables and put to sea, and ply
off and on till the weather is over. Sometimes they are forced to do so 2