File:Africa and its inhabitants (1899) (14596759178).jpg

Identifier: africaitsinhabit02recl (find matches)
Title: Africa and its inhabitants
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Keane, A. H. (Augustus Henry), 1833-1912
Subjects: Ethnology
Publisher: London : J.S. Virtue
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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of Teyde com-mands a plateau of lava and scoria) Ijing some 1,000 feet lower down, while onthe outer side all the narrow and deep crevasses of the crest, hence known as theCirco de las Cafiadas, arc disposed in deep barrancas descending in diverging linesto the coast. The western extremity of this system merges in a mal pais, orchaos of lavas strewn with volcanoes, one of which, the Chahorra, attains anelevation of 8,270 feet. Farther west the cones are so numerous that the inter-vening lava-streams ramify in all directions like a vast labyrinth. The outer edgeof the maiss rising above the Teno heights ends in the Montana Bcrmeja, or Red Moimtain, whence was ejected a stream of lava in the year 170G. Thusrecent lavas mark both extremities of the enclosure which encircles the base of thedominating volcano, the Echeydo of the old inhabitants, now known as the Peak AFRICA n. g 74 WEST AFRICA. of Tcydo. East of the central cone is llic peak of Alta Vista (10,900 feet), where t3 o I H I to
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in 1856 PiazzI Smyth established his observatory far above the clouds that veiled ^ TENEEIFFE. 75 land and RO<a, but in fidl sight of tlio fiery stars ■« hicli darted their golden raysagainst the black vault of night. • Although far from being the loftiest peak on the globe, as was long supposed,the Peak of Teyde is none the less one of the grandest summits visible from theocean. Amongst volcanoes it is uii!i)uo for its height and isolation in the centreof the primitive crater above which it has risen, a iiiouutain built upon amountain. It dominates by 5,680 feet the ruined cirque encircling it, and fromits summits all other peaks in Teneriffc seem depressed. It is easy to understandthe veneration with which it was regarded by the Guanches, whose most solemn oathwas that taken in its name. \Vhen the explorer reaches the jilatcau whence thesupreme cone rises 1,650 feet higher than Vesuvius, he perceives that what frombelow looked like forests was really formed by streaks of jju

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