Completely blind and suffering from debilitating pain and limited mobility, James Holman, undertook a series of solo journeys. In 1832 he became the first blind person to circumnavigate the globe and, by 1846, he had visited every inhabited continent.

I decided to investigate, and yes, he did visit Tenerife, if only for a few days, in 1827. Luckily, for us, he left a wealth of information that he had gathered. He hadn’t climbed Mount Teide because he didn’t have the time. What a man! What is more, I found his book on the internet.

His first impression of Tenerife was promising, – “My friends were very much pleased with the town (Santa Cruz) and good pavement affording a striking contrast to Funchal (Madeira) which, like most Portuguese towns, was dirty and badly paved. There was another agreeable sight, the Spanish women, with an interesting character of expression in their faces, which is much heightened by their beautiful dark eyes and jet black hair. The dresses are remarkable for their neatness.

His statistics for the time are very interesting, because, as he says, “Teneriffe, however, possesses but little English society, consequently there are few comforts or inducement for invalids.” This was only 30 years after Nelson’s failed attack. In addition to the lack of an English community, there had been a considerable emigration from Tenerife to Cuba and the Spanish Main which had just been prohibited because of the declaration of independence by Spanish South America.

The population statistics tell a story. Tenerife 80,000 (950,000), Gran Canary 60,000(850,000) La Palma 25,000 (85,000) Lanzarote 15,000 (150,000) Fuerteventura 10,000 (120,000) La Gomera 6,000 (23,000) El Hierro 4,000 (8,300). There are similar statistics for imports, exports, wines, fishing plus a lively commentary of their importance.

To tell you too much about his visit to Tenerife would be to spoil your enjoyment of the whole book. Step back 200 years!

I reached it by typing into Google – travels in Madeira, Sierra Leone, Tenerife, James Holman, Its a free Google eBook!

The opening chapter where Holman writes about a blind man’s passion for travel is very moving.
The poet from whom he quotes is Oliver Goldsmith.

Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,
Catch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame.
Their level life is but a mouldering fire,
Unquenched by want, unfanned by strong desire.

Ken Fisher, President