VOYAGE TO THE NIGER. 623 



crossed Mount Church, whose barren precipices are at first 

 covered with Spartium scoparium, higher up with shrubs of 

 Laurus and Erica, and then especially with the magnificent 

 Vactinium Maderense. On the summit it was dreadfully 

 cold, with fog, sometimes like rain. The valley was filled 

 with mist, clearing occasionally, just enough to see the 

 Laurus trees, that hung down from the surrounding steeps. 

 This Laurus, several interesting Ferns, and a few other plants, 

 were, owing to the bad weather, the unexpectedly small fruit 

 of this trip. On the succeeding Sunday, I chiefly visited the 

 gardens about the town. The singularly favourable situation 

 of Funchal, enjoying in consequence of the protection af- 

 forded by the surrounding mountains against cold winds, an 

 invariably moderate temperature, has been frequently dwelt 

 upon. I had plenty of opportunity to perceive this, for 

 during my stay, the weather was there constantly fine and 

 warm, with, at the utmost, a gentle shower ; but once be- 

 yond the mountains, I experienced the most furious winds, 

 and the valleys were filled with thick mists, loaded with as 

 much moisture as heavy rains. It were interesting to ascer- 

 tain the duration and intensity of these mists, which are re- 

 markably dense, and must be highly beneficial to a barren 

 island and fertilizing to its valleys. Later in the season, the 

 weather is said to be clear and settled in the interior also. 

 The valley of Funchal receives several rivulets, and has not 

 at this time any deficiency of water. Chestnut trees 'abound 

 in the valleys, and the lower declivities are frequently covered 

 with patches of Pines. To the gardens at Funchal the pre- 

 vailing state of the atmosphere is highly genial, and they 

 command splendid prospects towards the town and bay. One 

 really may fancy oneself in the East when walking, and still 

 more when riding between these gardens, which are enclosed 

 with stone walls, over which it is easy to behold the nu- 

 merous hedges of roses full of bloom. The singular spectacle 

 of the union of Bananas and Pine-apples with our European 

 fruit-trees, has been frequently noticed, and is particularly 



