and put to sea, and ply off and on till the weather is over.  Sometimes they are forced to do so 2 or 3 times before they can take in their lading; which it is hard to do here in the fairest weather:  and for fresh water they send, as I have said, to Santa Cruz.  Verdona is green, strong-bodied wine, harsher and sharper than canary.  It is not so much esteemed in Europe, but is exported to the West Indies, and will keep best in hot countries; for which reason I touched here to take in some of it for my voyage.  This sort of wine is made chiefly on the east side of the island, and shipped off at Santa Cruz.

Besides these wines, which are yearly vended in great plenty from the Canary Islands (chiefly from Grand Canary, Tenerife, and Palma) here is store of grain, as wheat, barley, and maize, which they often transport to other places.  They have also some beans and peas, and coches, a sort of grain much like maize, sowed mostly to fatten land.  They have papaws, which I shall speak more of hereafter; apples, pears, plums, cherries, and excellent peaches, apricots, guavas, pomegranates, citrons, oranges, lemons, limes, pumpkins, onions the best in the world, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, etc.  They are also well stocked with horses, cows, asses, mules, sheep, goats, hogs, conies, and plenty of deer.  The Lancerota horses are said to be the most mettlesome, fleet, and loyal horses that are.  Lastly here are many fowls, as cocks, and hens, ducks, pigeons, partridges, etc. with plenty of fish, as mackerel, etc.  All the Canary Islands have of these commodities and provisions more or less:  but as Lancerota is most famed for horses, and Grand Canary, Tenerife, and Palma for wines, Tenerife especially for the best malmsey (for which reason these 3 islands have the chief trade) so is Forteventura for dunghill-fowls, and Gomera for deer.  Fowls and other eatables are dear on the trading islands; but very plentiful and cheap on the other; and therefore it is best for such ships that are going out on long voyages, and who design to take in but little wine, to touch rather at these last; where also they may be supplied with wine enough, good and cheap:  and, for my own part, if I had known before I came hither, I should have gone rather to one of those islands than to Tenerife:  but enough of this.

And the governors at Laguna and Santa Cruz.

It is reported they can raise 12,000 armed men on this island.  The governor or general (as he is called) of all the Canary Islands lives at Laguna:  his name is Don Pedro de Ponto.  He is a native of this island, and was not long since President of Panama in the South Seas:  who bringing some very rich pearls from thence, which he presented to the Queen of Spain, was therefore, as it is said, made general of the Canary Islands.  The Grand Canary is an island much superior to Tenerife both in bulk and value; but this gentleman chooses rather to reside in this his native island.  He has the character of a very worthy person; and governs with moderation and justice, being very well beloved.