The rainy season continues here from the beginning of December until March, which they call winter, though it very seldom freezes ; and snow is only to be seen on the tops of the mountains. During the summer, the sky is always serene, and the heat is very intense, particu larly during the months of July, August, and September. The climate, however, in these islands is far from being uniform; for while in the cities upon the coast the air is hot, dry, and calm, the inhabitants of the mountainous districts experience fogs, wind, and even rain. From the centre of many of these islands being exceeding high, and full of lofty mountains, which tower so far above the clouds as to intercept the current of the winds, a calm generally prevails on the lea-side of the island, or a gentle breeze from the opposite quarter. These calms, or eddy winds, are extremely dangerous to small vessels approaching the islands ; for, at the extremity of the smooth water, the waves break in all directions ; and when a ship comes among them, she is shaken and beat en on all sides in such a manner, that it is almost impossi ble to withstand it. The calms on the leeward of Grand Canary extend 20 or 25 leagues into the ocean ; those of Teneriffe 15; of Gomera 10; and of Palma 30.
The soil of these islands is very fertile, and produces all kinds of grain, fruits, and pulse, in great abundance ; but the method of cultivation which is practised by the inhabitants tends very little to its improvement. The lands are here let, not for money, but for the half of the produce. The proprietor furnishes the seed, and other articles of the first necessity, also the cattle, which in deed belong to him, and which he can take back at the expiry of the lease. For these, he receives the half of the crop during the term of agreement, besides a fanega of wheat for every head of cattle. The peasants often rent the cattle without the land, merely to share the half of their increase. In these agreements the husbandman has no inducement to exertion. A moderate crop is all that he expects or desires ; for a plentiful harvest can be of very little value to him, who is prevented, by the prohi bitory measures of his government, from converting the overplus into wealth, or exchanging it for foreign com modities. The necessaries of life are all that he requires ; and his labour is confined to the production of these alone. Thus rendered indolent and improvident, lie is Dever pre pared against a season of scarcity ; and is sometimes re duced, like his savage ancestors, to reed upon bread made from fern roots. It is, however, a fact, the truth of which is established by experience, that a scarcity of provisions in any country arises not su much ['coin the sterility of the soil, as from the measures of government ; and it need scarcely be remarked, that ['amine is more frequent in some of the rich and rertile diat•icts of the south, where the exertions of industry are paralised by arbitrary regulations, than in many countries which pos sess an ungrateful soil, but which are ruled by a wiser and more liberal polic). Sugar was rormerly made here in great abundance ; and twelve sugar nulls were em ployed in the manufacture of this article in Grand Canary alone. It has of late, however, very much !linen off; and the cotton plantations have also bet n greatly ne glected. Besides these, olives, mulberries, and tobacco,
might he cultivated here with great success. These islands produce plenty of honey, wax, and a kind of black gum or pitch called bray. All the islands furnish excel lent wine, but the preference is in general given to those of Palma and Tenerif•e. In good seasons, Tenerifte alone produces above .30,000 pipes, a third of which is Malmsey or Canary sack, which sells from 30 to 60 pias tres a pipe. 'The rest is a dry hard wine, which sells for about half that price. When two or three years old, It can scarcely be distinguished from AIadeira; but when allowed to stand for four ) ears, it turns mellow and sweet, and resembles greatly the wine of Malaga in Spain. The rattle of the Canaries are, horses, oxen, goats, sheep, roebucks, and wild asses. They abound with several kinds of game, and poultry, also with singing birds, par ticularly the Canary bird, so well known throughout Eu rope; and their shores arc well stocked with fish, espe cially sturgeons and mackarcl, which zu•e a great source or 000risloiluit to the poor inhabitants.
Teneriffe is the great centre of European commerce in these islands. Some ships go to Grand Canary and Palma, but their number is inconsiderable ; and this branch of trade is chiefly in the hands of the English. The principal exports to Europe and the British colonies in America, arc wines, brandy, fruits, orchilla-wced, and commodities which they receive front the Spanish \Vest Indies. From the British islands they receive various kinds or woollen cloths, hats, stockings, hardware, &c. also w heat, w hen there is a scarcity in the island, and beef, pork, butter, candles, and salt hen ing ; f,•om the north of Europe, linens, cordage, gun-powder, bar iron, &c. ; from the 'Mediterranean, cottons, silks, velvets, salt, oil, bass cordage, and innumerable small articles, either for home consumption, or for exportation to the Spanish West Indies ; from North America, deal boards, pipe staves, bacallao or dried cod, hams, bees-wax, rice, &c. All these goods, imported into the Canaries, or exported from them, pay a duty of 7 per cent. on the rated value. The commerce which these islands carry on with the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, is under particu lar regulations and restrictions. No foreign bottoms are permitted to be employed in this trade, nor are vessels allowed to be fitted out from any of the islands except Gram', Canary, Tenerifre, and Palma. This trade is con fined t• • their own product, of which they annually export marl) 3 110 tons ; hut they also find opportunities of smuggling into the country immense quantities of Euro pean commodities. Besides this foreign commerce, the Canaries carry on a considerable trade with eat h other. The island or Tt•neriffe is the principal staple of all West India at.d European commodities, which it distributes among the other islands ; and receives in exchange, from Grand Canary provisions or all suits, coarse wool len blankets. raw and wrought silk, flags, filtering stones, and some salt, Zze. ; from Palma, almonds, sugar, sweet pit( h, and jaw silk ; from Golocra and rro, raw silk, brandy, and cattle ; from Lancer( to and Forte Ventura, a great quantity of ct,rn, cattle, and Fowls, also some salt and di ied fish ; and from all of them or china weed.