1838.J FUNCHAL. 33 



of particular attraction was visited by one or more parties ; 

 the inhabitants usually receiving them with the utmost kind- 

 ness and cordiality. 



The Madeira Islands belong to Portugal, and consist of 

 Madeira proper, Porto Santo, and the Desert Isles. The 

 first two, the only ones inhabited, are included in one district, 

 and contain about one hundred and twenty thousand inhabi- 

 tants, of all sexes and classes. The people are very loyal to 

 their present sovereign, Donna Maria ; their taxes are not 

 very heavy ; and though beggars are somewhat numerous 

 among them, they may be generally regarded as exceedingly 

 industrious. They are gay and cheerful in their dispositions, 

 and, with rare exceptions, hospitable and generous. 



Funchal, the capital of the island of Madeira, is pleasantly 

 situated on the southern shore, surrounded by an amphitheatre 

 of lofty hills, terminating, on one side, in Loo Rock, a bold 

 quadrangular precipice, with a fortification on the summit, 

 which overlooks the harbor in front of the town. It contains 

 some eight or ten thousand inhabitants, most of whom reside 

 in neat whitewashed cottages one story in height, though there 

 are many more imposing structures, provided with verandahs, 

 or light airy colonnades. The streets are narrow, but well- 

 paved, and present quite a cleanly appearance. There are a 

 number of churches and convents, which are always lighted 

 in the early part of the evening. The prisons are well-filled, 

 and extremely filthy. This may be attributed, however, to 

 defective laws, as every offender is required to be sent to Por- 

 tugal for trial, and sometimes years elapse before he leaves 

 the island. 



In addition to Funchal, there are several other pretty towns, 

 among which are Santa Cruz, Porto Delgada, and San Vin- 

 cente, on the north side of the island, and Canical and Cb- 

 mancha, on the east side. The principal objects of interest 

 to the tourist, are, the Curral, — a circular gorge, as the name 

 implies, in the midst of the mountains, — the winding pass at 

 Estroza, and the Convent of Our Lady of the Mountain, the 

 highest building on the island. 



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