Page:Costumes of the Canary Islands.djvu/10



winter dress of the men of Lanzarote consists of a long coat of blue cloth reaching almost to the ground lined throughout, and trimmed with red baize, worn over their ordinary apparel.

The natives of this Island are in general strong, muscular men of dark complexion, and many of them with features that mark a great mixture of Moorish blood with that of the Spaniards, which their frequent intercourse with the coast of Africa has occasioned. They are a very untrustworthy people, fierce and vindictive in the extreme: but fortunately the use of the knife is almost unknown to them, their favourite weapon being the long pole or Garote, so generally borne throughout the Island; this they wield with great address, seizing it by the middle with both hands, and striking or parrying with much skill and force.

The principal produce of Lanzarote, like that of Fuerteventura, is Barrilla, made by burning the ice-plant or glass–wort, which thrives best in the arid sandy soil of these two Islands. It is used in Europe in the manufacture of glass and soap, and in the bleaching of linen. Considerable quantities of wheat and barley are raised for the supply of the Canaries. Their most serviceable beast of burthen is the Camel, or more properly Dromedary, of which they have many, living on the worst and scantiest food; they are capable of bearing loads of eight or ten cwt. for a long distance.