Lat: 23.05 N Long:
17.21 W. Distance: 326 miles to noon
There is much about Tenerife which did not come under yesterday’s
date which I am gradually recalling. So many fresh scenes and experiences makes
it very difficult to give a complete description in any sense of the word.
The variety of animals seen in the streets was remarkable:
dogs, cats, goats, fowls, donkeys, mules and camels were among those we saw on
our drive. The Kaktus grows abundantly and forms hedges in some places; palm
trees gave an added tropical appearance to many of the gardens, oleanders grew by the roadside and we passed through
two avenues of eucalyptus trees. Those latter are especially valuable for pier
purposes as they are very resistant to the action of the sea water which causes
rot in other woods.
As we left the island it was interesting to note that the
clouds were traveling in the opposite direction to our smoke. This phenomenon
is due to the circulation of air between the equatorial regions and the poles.
Hot air rises and passes northward in the upper layers of the atmosphere whilst
cooler air flows southwards from the poles nearer the earth’s surface. Thus our
smoke drifted on ahead of us (southward) while the clouds floated gently toward
the north.
We have lapsed back into our usual routine today. The sky is
cloudy but the weather is fine.
Tonight at 9.0pm there was a concert in the dining saloon
suitably transformed for the purpose. The singer (male) had a most beautiful
voice; the violinist was good but most of the others were weak. Many of the
passengers made this their first occasion of appearing in white (tropical)
attire. The boat is gradually changing its appearance as we enter warmer
regions: even the stewards and officers are beginning to change (also
gradually!): they now appear in white trousers but with their dark blue
jackets. It will be a day or two before these are shed and the transformation
is complete!
Tonight the sea shows another characteristic of the tropics –
little specks of phosphorescence among the foam along the ship's sides looking
like little glow-worm lights among the waves. The phosphorescence is produced
by a little water animal and is seen where the water has been stirred up by the
ships “wash”.
We are travelling faster tonight.
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