Touring the Canary Islands

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The Canary Islands lie in the North Atlantic Ocean about sixty miles off the coast of Africa. They consist of a group of seven islands, the largest of which is called Tenerife, with which the moving picture trade is already familiar through our introduction of the Volcano of Chahorra. The present inhabitants are slightly darker than the people of Spain, but in other respects differ very little from them. They are mentally quick, but like most people of the lower part of Europe are lazy, faithless and superstitious, given to gambling and drinking. The lower orders are quite illiterate. We, in our trip, arrive first at Las Palmas, a coast town of about 15,000 people on the island of Grand Canary. It is the seat of local government and is a small, well-built and clean town. We are shown the harbor Puerto de la Luz, defended by its several forts. In the trolley trip about the streets we familiarize ourselves with the handsome cathedrals, hospitals, colleges, convents, as well as the public square. We next visit the market and public fountain, being introduced to numerous activities peculiar to the people of the island. One interesting scene is that of the women washing clothes along the road. We then drive along one of the country roads which is skirted on either side by dense stands of vegetation, some of which we are permitted to see at close range, notable the bananas and palm trees.