Vegetation in Madeira. 59 



the grander and more gigantic forms of true tropical vegetation 

 are wanting, and the landscape displays rather the character 

 of an island off the shores of Italy than of the torrid zone — 

 still Nature exhibits herself here with such varied charms 

 that imagination can scarcely conceive a sweeter or lovelier 

 scene. The most beautiful plants of the temperate and sub- 

 tropical zones meet here in their highest development, whilst 

 some representatives of the tropics intermixed enhance the 

 richness of the wonderful picture. Odoriferous magno- 

 lias, large flowering tulip trees, plane trees, laurels, myrtles, 

 acacias, passion and trumpet flowers, tree-like fuchsias 

 with immense blossoms, gaudy hortensias, sweet-smelling 

 roses, blooming oleanders, aloes, .40 feet high, in full 

 flower, imposing camellias with shining green foliage, 

 covered with beautiful rose - like flowers, chestnut trees, 

 Brazilian pines, cypresses — all delight the eye, together 

 with pomegranates, tamarinds, bananas, sugar-canes, coffee- 

 shrubs, gigantic dragon trees, pine-apples, mangroves, pa- 

 payas, and aquacates. Certainly, at a later date, we met in 

 the primitive forests of the Nicobar islands, or in Java, Luzon, 

 and the Caroline islands, with grander and more imposing 

 scenery ; but none that surpassed in fragrance, luxuriance, and 

 loveliness the floral beauty of Madeira. 



The anchorage of Funchal* is merely an open, exceed- 

 ingly unsafe roadstead, which affords so little protection to 



* Tlie Portuguese for fennel-field, because the first discoverers of the island 

 found this plant in great abundance. 



