Geology^ and Climate of the Island of Madeira. 341 



one coast to the other, which can be easily done in a day's jour- 

 ney, one seems to be in altogether a different land, so changed 

 is the climate, the vegetation, and the whole aspect of the 

 country. From the city there are two roads to the north of 

 the island, leading to the two villages of St Vincento and 

 St Ann''s. In going by one of these and returning by the 

 other, the traveller who has only a few days to spend in the 

 island may see its finest and most interesting scenery. The 

 expedition, however, depends on the state of the weather in 

 the mountains, which are not always passable ; and, at any 

 time, few passing visitors who find themselves after a sea voy- 

 age thrown for a few days upon a spot of such varied delight 

 as Funchal, are willing to brave the cold, and fatigue, and in- 

 convenience of many kinds, by which the pleasure of viewing 

 the remote scenery must be purchased. 



From Funchal to St Vincente it is about nine hours'* ride. 

 For some miles the road lies eastward along the sea-cliffs, 

 conunanding in most places a fine view of the sea. The coun- 

 try is here in cultivation ; the vine and corn being the princi- 

 pal produce, with occasional gardens of fniit and vegetables 

 for the supply of the city. At the ravine of the Socorridos 

 river, the route leaves the direction of the coast, and proceeds 

 inward by a continuous ascent, often considerably steep. The 

 road being paved and inclosed by loose stone walls, is compa- 

 ratively uninteresting till the upper limit of the vineyards is 

 passed. The path, now more open and wide, runs across 

 mountain turf and heath, and sometimes through forests of 

 chestnut and other trees, till it passes above the Jardini, the 

 beautiful villa of Mr Veitch, long the British Consul in Ma- 

 deira. Shortly after this we come to the Corral, one of the 

 finest pieces of Madeira scenery, and which, being within a 

 ride of the city, most strangers are able to visit. Leaving the 

 path we ascend the brow of a hill to the right, and come sud- 

 denly upon the edge of a precipice of great height, forming 

 part of the wall of a vast ravine or hollow in the shape of a 

 crater, enclosed almost entirely by lofty mountains, from the 

 rugged sides of which, crags and cliffs jut out into the valley. 

 These cliffs are clothed with forests of laurel and other cvei-- 

 yrcoii trcoS) nciirly to the summits of tlic mountain sides. GUi 



