32 FERTILITY. [1838. 



ceaseless roar of the ocean surf, stand like giant warders, on 

 every hand. The shores are indented by a few small bays, 

 receiving the waters of the mountain streamlets, at the upper 

 extremities of which are the little villages whose white walls 

 glisten like enamel in the beams of the morning sun. 



Throughout its whole extent, the island is mountainous, 

 and the western half is divided by a central ridge, five thou- 

 sand feet high, upon which is spread out the vast plain of 

 Paul de Serra, mostly overgrown, and used for breeding 

 horses and mules. Deep gorges, with steep precipitous sides, 

 everywhere intersect the elevated ground. The intervals, 

 and the lower slopes of the hills, are highly productive, and 

 even the mountain tops are clothed with rich verdure, or 

 groves of heath and broom, — not the stunted varieties of 

 northern climes, but the luxuriant growth of the tropics. 

 From the rugged character of the scenery, it might be sup- 

 posed that but a small portion of the island could be cultiva- 

 ted ; yet, what nature has done amiss, or left unfinished, man 

 has attempted to remedy and complete. Terraces, supported 

 by stone walls, girt the acclivities, even to their summits ; 

 and green patches start out, like emeralds, in bold relief, from 

 the dark red soil that surrounds them. Within the narrow 

 compass of this delightful spot, the productions of the torrid 

 and temperate zones are brought together : on the lower ter- 

 races, oranges, citrons, and lemons, may be found ; higher 

 up, are bananas, figs, and pomegranates ; still higher, apples, 

 currants, pears, peaches, plums, melons, tomatoes and egg- 

 plants, greet the sight ; and above all these grows the potato, 

 solitary and alone. 



Before sunset on the 16th, the Vincennes, Porpoise, and 

 Sea-Gull, cast anchor in the harbor of Funchal, on the south- 

 ern side of Madeira, the capital of the island. The Peacock 

 and Flying-Fish joined them on the following day, — when a 

 party of officers was made up to go ashore, and pay their re- 

 spects to the civil governor, Baron de Lordello, and the mili- 

 tary commandant, Seiior Rebello, who received them very 

 courteously During the stay of the squadron, every point 



