Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/163

* CANARY ISLANDS. 131 CANBY. shape of the largest island). A group of islands in the Atlantic, off the northwestern eoast of Africa, constituting a province of Spain (.Map: Africa, C 2). They e.Mend from about latitude 27' 40' to 2t)° 25' X., and from longitude 13" 25' to 18° 16' V., forming a land area of 280S square miles. The group consists of the seven large inhabited islands, Tenerilfe (752 square miles), Gran Canaria (531 square miles), Palma (280 square miles), Gomera ( 144 square miles), Kerro or Hierro ( 107 square miles, the smallest of the large islands), Fuerteventura (0(35 square miles) and Lanzarote (326 square miles), and six islets. The entire group is of volcanic origin, and there are extinct volcanoes on all the islands. The volcanoes of Pico de Teyde on Tenerifl'e and the Mountain of Fire on Lanzarote are but slum- bering. The former, the loftiest mountain of the Canaries, often called the Peak of Tenerilie, rises to a height of 12,190 feet. The climate is generally mild and healthful. The average temperature for tlie year is about 65", while the maximum and minimum are about 80° and 52° respectively. Precipitation is very scant and occurs mainly in winter ; droughts are frequent. The hot east and southeast winds blowing from Africa drj' up the vegetation. There are several zones of vegetation depending on the altitude, but in general the west slopes furnish a more abimdant vegetation than those on the east. The vegetation of the lowest zone, extend- ing up to 1200 and 1300 feet, is more or less African, and includes the date palm, sugar-cane, the dragon's-blood tree, etc. In the second zone, between 1200 and 2800 feet, the flora resembles that of southern Europe, and comprises the vine, the olive, the orange, and several kinds of Euro- pean grain. In the third zone the vegetation is confined mostly to trees, and includes the Finns cnnarieirsis, evergreens, the Rctnina hlaiica, and a few other coniferfe. The native fauna offers little variety, and most of the animals have been imported either from Europe or Africa. The two easternmost islands. Fuerteventura and Lanza- rote, possess a richer vegetation and are better wooded than the others. The chief agricultural products are fruits, onions, and potatoes, which are exported to the West indies. The production of wine was for- merly of considerable importance, but is at pres- ent in a state of decline. The land is held mostly in large estates and the peasants are gen- erally very poor and emigrate in considerable mmiiiers to Cuba and to the other West Indian inlands. The Canaries were formerly of great com- mercial importance through the production of cochineal, but this industry has declined greatly. Tobacco, sugar, and silk are raised only in insig- nificant quantities. The manufacturing industries afe of little account and are confined chiefly to the production of some silk and cotton fabrics ind coarse linen. The commerce is largely with Great Britain and Spain. Inter- insul.ar commu- irication is maintained by means of sailing ves- sels, and communication with Europe is effected by mail steamers. For administrative purposes the group is divided into seven districts. There is a Spanish garrison and a native militia. The towns of Santa Cruz de Teneriffe (the capital) and Ciudad de las Palmas are fortified. The population of the group was 334,i;21 in 1S!)7. The Canaries arc regarded as the Fortunntw Insula: of the ancients, and are supposed to have been known to the Phoenicians and the Cartha- ginians, judging from the description by Juba 11., King of -Mauritania, liefore their annexa- tion to Spain they were inhabited by the Guan- chos, a Berber tribe, now completely amalga- mated with the Spanish settlers. Their discovery by Europeans in modern times dates from the Fourteenth Century, when a vessel was acciden- tally driven on the islands. In 1344 they were granted by the Pope to Luis de la Cerda, who, however, did not take possession of them. They were subsequently granted by Henry III. of Cas- tile to Robert of Bracamonte, and it was only in tlie beginning of the Fifteenth Century that an attempt was made to take possession of them. In 1402-05 Jean de Bethencourt, a French adven- turer, to whom Robert of Bracamonte had trans- ferred his title, conquered several of the islands, and by the end of the century the entire grou]) was in the possession of Spain, Tenerifle, the largest, having been taken in 1496. Consult Brown, Madeira and the Canary Islands (Lon- don, 1894). CANARY-SEED. See Canary-Grass. CANARY WINE. A wine which is also known as Teneriffe, from one of the Canary Islands bearing that name, produced in these islands, and resembling JMadeira. The name is applied properly only to the Bidogne wine, and must be distinguished from the Malvoisie of the Canaries, made from the ilalvasia sweet grape. It is made from grapes gathered before they have ripened, and when new" is crude and unpleasant; but in the course of two or three years, increas- ing in mildness with age, 'it becomes so much like iladeira that it is often sold for it. Like Madeira, it is greatly improved by a voyage to the tropics. CANAS'TER (Lat. canistrum, from Gk. nav- aarpov, kanastron, w-icker basket) . A rush bas- ket used in Spanish America to hold tobacco; hence is said to be derived the name 'canaster,' ai)plied to tobacco of a certain kind. CAN'BY, Edward Richard Sprigg (1819-73). An American soldier. He was born in Kentucky, early removed with his parents to Indiana, grad- uated at West Point in 1839, and served as second lieutenant in the Seminole War from 1839 to 1842, and as captain in the Jle.xiean War in 1846-47, being brevetted major during the latter war for "gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras and Chtirubtisco," and lieu- tenant-colonel for ■■gallant conduct at Belen Gate." He then served as assistant adjutant- general of the Pacific Division from 1849 to 1851, and in the adjutant-general's office from 1851 to 1855; participated in the Utah expedition of 1857-60, and commanded the Xavajo expedi- tion of 1800-61. During the Civil War he com- manded the Department of Xew Mexico from .June, 1801, to September, 1862, successfully de- fending his territory from the attacks of the Confederate general Sibley; was raised to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers in March, 1802: was in command of the Draft Rendezvous at Pittsburg from Xovember. 1862. to January, 1863; was then assigned to special duty at the War Department: commanded the city and har- bor of Xew York at the time of the Draft Riots (q.v. ) in 1863: became a major-general of vol- unteers in May, 1864, and subsequently com-