was done by the ejected ashes, stones, and lava. The sugar-cane is grown on an elevated plain called Los Llanos. Santa Cruz on the eastern coast is the principal town (population 4400). Ribands and stockings are manufactured there from silk produced on the island. The anchorage is good. The cultivated soil is fertile, but the labouring classes are in a wretched condition, notwithstanding their
industrious habits.
Lanzarote, the most easterly of the group, has a length of 3t miles and a breadth varying from 5 to 10 miles. It is naked and mountainous, bearing everywhere marks of its volcanic origin. Montana Blanca, the highest point, attains a height of 2000 feet, and is cultivated to the summit. In 1730 the appearance of half the island was altered by a volcanic outburst. A violent earthquake preceded the catastrophe, by which nine villages were destroyed. In 1825 another volcanic eruption took place accompanied by earthquakes, and two hills were thrown up which still emit smoke. The port of Naos on the south east of the island affords safe anchorage. It is protected by two forts. A short distance inland is the town of Arrecife (population 2700), where a British vice-consul resides. The climate is hot and dry. There is only a single spring of fresh water on the island, and that is in a position difficult of access. From the total failure of water the inhabitants were once compelled to abandon the island. Grain, wine (which is of superior quality), brandy, barilla, orchil, and raisins made from the muscatel grape are the principal articles of export. Dromedaries are used us beasts of burden. Teguise (population 1000), on the north-west coast, is the residence of the local authorities. A strait of about 6 miles in width separates Lanzarote from Fuerteveutura.
Graciosa, a small uninhabited island, is divided from the north-eastern extremity of Lanzarote by a channel a mile in width, which affords the most capacious and only safe harbour for large ships at the Canaries ; but basaltic cliffs, 1500 feet high, prevent intercourse with the inhabited part of Lanzarote. A few persons reside on the little island Allegranza, a mass of lava and cinders ejected at various times from a now extinct volcano, the crater of which has still a well-defined edge.
Fuerteventura lies between Lanzarote and Grand tura. Canary. It has a length of 52 miles, and an average width of 12 miles. Though less mountainous than the other islands, its aspect is barren. The springs of fresh water are only two, and they are confined to one valley. Lava streams and other signs of volcanic action abound, but there has been no igneous activity since the Spaniards took posses sion. At each of its extremities are high mountains, which send off branches along the coast so as to enclose a large arid plain. The highest peak reaches 2500 feet. In external appearance, climate, and productions this island greatly resembles Lauzarote. An interval of three years without rain has been known. The wine is bad. Barilla and orchil are largely exported. Oliva, with 970 inhabi tants, is the largest town. A smaller place in the centre of the island named Betancuria is the residence of the authorities. Cabras, on the eastern coast (population 1 000), is the chief port. Dromedaries are bred here.
Gomera lies 20 miles south-west of Teneriffe. Its greatest length is about 23 miles. The coast is precipitous and the interior mountainous, but it has the most wood and is the best watered of the group. The inhabitants are very poor. The palm trees produce excellent dates ; and wine, brandy, orchil, raw silk, and dried fruits are sent to Tene riffe. Dromedaries are bred on Gomera in large numbers. 8t Sebastian, the chief town and a port, has 2240 inhabi tants. Columbus resided here before sailing in search of the New World.
Hierro, or Ferro, the most westerly and the smallest island of the group, is somewhat crescent-shaped. Its length is about U> miles, its greatest breadth about 15 miles, and its circumference probably 50 miles. It lies 92 miles W.S.W. of Teneriffe. Its coast is bound by high steep rocks, which only admit of one harbour, but the interior is tolerably level. Its hill-tops in winter are some times wrapped in snow, which, however, does not lie long. Better and more abundant grass grows here than on any of the other islands. The island is exposed to westerly gales, which frequently commit great damage. Fountains of fresh water are few, but there is a sulphurous spring, with a temperature of 102 Fahr. Tli3 ones celebrated and almost sacred Til tree, which was reputed to ba always distilling water in great abundance from its leaves, no longer exists. Only a small part of the cultivable land is under tillage, the inhabitants being principally employed in pasturage. Wine, brandy, orchil, excellent dried figs, and sheep are sent to Teneriffa. At Valverde, the principal town, with 4G40 inhabitants, the local authorities reside. Geographers were formerly in the habit of measuring all longitudes from Ferro, the most westerly land known to them. The longitude assigned at first has, however, turned out to be erroneous; and the so-called "Longitude of Ferro" does not coincide with the actual longitude of the island.
See Bethencourt, The Canarian, published by the Hakluyt Society in 1872 ; Von Bucli, Description des lies Canaries, 1803 ; Bory de Saint Vincent, Les lies Fortunes, 1825 ; Fritsch, Jlcise- lilder von den Canariscton Inseln, published as the 22d supple mental part to Petermanu s Mittheilungen ; C. Fiuzzi Smyth, Tcnc- ri/e, 1868.
(j. y. j.)
CANCALE, a seaport town of France, in the depart ment of Ille-et-Vilaine, 10 miles E. of St Malo. on the bay of St Michael. A considerable trade is carried on in oysters, which are found in the bay in great numbers and of excellent quality. In 1758 the duke of Maiiborough disembarked an army of 14,000 English here for the pur pose of attacking St Malo, but retired without accomplish ing anything. Population in 1872, 3814.
CANCAO, Cancar, or Kang-Jao, otherwise known as Ponthiamus or Potai-mat, or in Chinese, Ha Thian, the capital of a small state in Western Cambodia, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Siam, at the mouth of the River Cancao or Klong Chanda ; in 10 14 N. lat. and 104 55 E. long. The town was once a great centre of Cambodian trade, its port having been declared free by a man of Chinese origin, who took advantage of the civil troubles of Siam to effect his purpose. In 1717, however, the Siamese expelled the merchants who had flocked to the place ; and though a considerable, exportation of rice and salt is still maintained, the prosperity of the town has largely diminished. The harbour is shallow, though the river in general has a great depth of water. A canal gives communication with the Mekong River.
CANCER, or Carcinoma (from cancer, or Ko.pKivo<;, an eating ulcer), is the name given to a class of morbid growths or tumours which occur in man, and also in certain of the lower animals. The term is apt to be somewhat loosely employed, partly owing to the fact that there are not a few forms of diseased growth respecting which it is still a matter of debate whether they are to be regarded as cancerous or not ; and in some measure also to the diffi culty often experienced in recognizing true cancer particu larly in its earlier stages.
The disease exists in various forms, which, although differing from each other in many points, have yet certain common characters to which they owe their special significance.
