Geology^ and Climate of the Island of Madeira, 363 



and rocky surface, without any sand or comminuted detritus. 

 In the Bay of Funchal, which is the principal, and indeed the 

 only station for large ships, the depth of anchorage is from 

 forty to fifty fathoms, and the bottom broken and rocky. In 

 those places where the soa does not wash the face of the cliffs, 

 there is a bank of coarse shingle, formed of rounded masses of 

 basaltic rocks. With one or two trifling exceptions, there is 

 no spot with a gravel far less a sand beach. The absence of 

 a beach in a maritime station is one of the few wants felt by 

 stranger invalids in Funchal. The want is in a great measure 

 supplied by the terraces that have been made along the shore, 

 which, when the trees have grown sufficiently to afford shelter 

 from the sun, will prove most delightful places of resort for 

 walking. The sea bank is generally very steep, and over it 

 there is every where more or less of a surf. In the bay of 

 Funchal, which is well sheltered from most winds, this surf 

 does not give rise to much annoyance ; but even there it is 

 often difficult to land a boat with safety. It is most amusing 

 to observe the skill with which the islanders convey to shore 

 boats heavily laden with fruit or other cargos which the in- 

 gress of the sea water would destroy. The surf breaking close 

 into shore, the boat is kept in the smooth water immediately 

 beyond it, within a few feet of the beach, till the boatman 

 on the look out, who has patiently allowed many a wave to 

 break, descries one approaching which he deems favourable, 

 and the signal having been given, the boat is borne on it se- 

 curely to land, and immediately drawn up out of reach of the 

 succeeding wave. The process seems a very easy one ; but I 

 have more than once seen English sailors, who thought so and 

 tried it, fail, and get thoroughly ducked, to the great amuse- 

 ment of the native boatmen. 



The prevailing winds of the island are northerly and easterly. 

 Perhaps two hundred days in the year may be noted as be- 

 tween the N.E. and N.W. points ; and about fifty more due 

 east. From this it is obvious that the island is within those 

 limits in which the trade winds blow with considerable regula- 

 larity. Occasionally there are violent irregular winds which 

 do considerable damage to the vines and other property. 

 These hurricanes, are, however, of rare occorrence. There 



