Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia Volume I Part 2

In twenty-four hours in January, fell 5.24 inches.

A few observations taken on board the Beagle during the five days it lay at Santa Cruz seemed to give a mean heat of about 76 degrees; but it must be remembered that these observations were made in a vessel lying only about a quarter of a mile from the sh.o.r.e and exposed to the constant rays of the sun during six days of a season considered by the inhabitants to be a very warm one. I do not therefore think that the observations of Dr.

Savignon and Mr. Richardson, taken under such very different circ.u.mstances at Laguna, which Von Buch estimates at 264 toises above the sea, could be far from the truth.

The annual mean temperature of Santa Cruz according to Von Buch is 71 degrees 8' Fahrenheit, or 21 degrees 8' of the centigrade scale.

OCCASIONAL VIOLENT STORMS.

From Mr. Cochrane, a very intelligent English merchant whom I met there, I obtained much information on various points, and he brought to my notice the violent storms of wind and rain which occur on the island occasionally during the rainy season, and cause great destruction and damage.

DAMAGE BY STORM OF 1826.

One had pa.s.sed over in the month of March of the year I was there (1837) and I was fortunate enough to obtain an official account of the damage occasioned by another in November 1826, which is here annexed. A similar one was experienced, as will be seen by the table, in January 1812, when 5.24 inches of rain fell in twenty-four hours.

En la noche del 7 al 8 de Novembre 1826, se experimento un temporal de Viento y Agua, que causo on todas les Yslas muchos estragos. En 8 pueblos de la de Tenerife, se sufrion las des-gracias que manifiesta el siguente Estado.

[In the night between the 7th and 8th of November 1826 was experienced a storm of wind and rain which caused great ravages in all the islands. In 8 districts of Tenerife were sustained the losses enumerated below.]

COLUMN 1: PUEBLOS. Towns.

COLUMN 2: PERSONAS. Persons.

COLUMN 3: CUSAE DESTRUIDAS. Houses Destroyed.

COLUMN 4: ANIMALES. Animals.

COLUMN 5: CASAS ARRUINADAS. Houses Ruined.

Villa de la Oratava 104 144 591 75.

Puerto de la Cruz 32 31 23 6.

Realejo de Arriba 25 41 - -.

Realejo de Abajo 14 9 - 2.

Guancha 52 72 344 31.

Rambla 10 14 13 -.

Ycod 5 - - -.

Santa Ursula 1 - 38 -.

VOCABULARY OF THE CANARIAN DIALECTS.

Sunday July 23.

I procured a few words of the original languages of the Guanches from in old government ma.n.u.script, and as from this circ.u.mstance no doubt can exist as to its authenticity, I have inserted them.

Several of these will be found already published in the History of the Canary Islands by Glas (page 174) with occasional slight differences of spelling, whilst the rest, though few in number, are, as far as I am aware, now first given.

VOCABULARY OF TENERIFE, OF CANARY AND PALMA.

Such scanty vocabularies and some mummies from Tenerife, scattered through the cabinets of the curious in various parts of Europe, are the only existing records of the race which held possession of these islands on the descent of John de Betancourt, about the year 1400, and who were nearly exterminated within little more than a century after.

ALGUNAS DICCIONES DE LA LENGUA GUANCHINESA O DE TENERIFE.

(Some words of the language of the Guanches, or of Tenerife.)

COLUMN 1: GUANCHEAN.

COLUMN 2: SPANISH.

COLUMN 3: ENGLISH.

Achamam : Dios : G.o.d.

Achano : Ano : A year.

Achicaxna (Achicarna, Glas.) : Villano : A peasant.

Achimencey : Hidalgo : A n.o.bleman.

Ataman : - : Heaven.

Axa (Ara, Glas.) : Cabra : A Goat.

Banot : Vara Endurecida : A Pole hardened (by fire).

Cancha : Perro : A Dog.

Achicuca : Hijo : A son.

Cichiciquizo : Escudero : A Squire.

Guan (Coran, Glas.) : Hombre : A man.

Guanigo : Cazuela de Barro : An Earthen vessel.

Hara (Ana, Glas.) : Oveja : A Sheep.

Mencey : El Rey : The King.

Oche (Ahico, Glas.) : Mantera : A mantle.

Sigone : Capitan : A Captain.

Tano : Cebada : Barley.

Xerios : Zapatos : Shoes.

ALGUNAS DICCIONES DE LA LENGUA DE CANARIA.

(Some words of the language of Canary.)

COLUMN 1: CANARY.

COLUMN 2: SPANISH.

COLUMN 3: ENGLISH.

Ahorac : Dios : G.o.d.

Almogaron : Adoratorio : A Temple or place of wors.h.i.+p.

Amodagas : Varos-tostados : Poles hardened (by fire).

Aramotanoque : Cebada : Barley.

Aridaman : Cabra: A Goat.

Carianas : Espuerta : A Rush or Palm-basket.

Doramas : Narices : Nostrils.

Gofio : Farina de cebada tostada : Flour of baked Barley.

Guanarteme : El Rey : The King.

Guaire : El Consejero : The Councillor.

Magado : Garrote de Guerra : Poles or sticks used as weapons.

Tahagan (Taharan, Glas.) : Oveja : A Sheep.

Tamaranona : Carne Frita : Roasted or broiled meat.

Tamarco : Camisa de pieles : A Garment or s.h.i.+rt of hides or skins.

ALGUNAS DICCIONES DE LA LENGUA PALMESA.

(Some words of the language of Palma.)