Rigorous Custom-house Formalities. 6i 



by small, peculiarly-built boats, which, whilst tossed by the 

 waves, have to be drawn on shore by the natives wading knee- 

 deep in the water. If, therefore, the ship remains any length 

 of time at Funchal, the communication with the land is 

 attended with considerable expense. We laid out, in payments 

 to the boatmen, during a stay of nine days, the sum of 

 forty-five Spanish piastres * (£9 1 5s. sterling), although they 

 had not over-charged us. 



The formalities at the custom-house, which strangers — even 

 those belonging to a ship-of-war of a friendly Power — have 

 to go through, are extremely annoying, and entail a great 

 loss of time. Before landing, passengers* boats are boarded 

 in the open roads by officers, who are stationed a few cable 

 lengths from the shore. On landing, the stranger is obliged 

 to repair to the custom-house, where even small and open 

 packages are subjected to a second rigid examination. The 

 time lost during this process, unnecessarily minute, is 

 exceedingly unpleasant. The reason assigned for these vexa- 

 tious regulations is the extent to which, of late, smuggling has 

 been carried on in the island, and which, in the opinion of the 

 Governor, required these measures of precaution. It seems, 

 however, that this system rather promotes contraband trading, 

 by making it very lucrative. The Austrian consul, Charles 

 Bianchi, Esq., did all in his power to diminish the frequency 

 of the continual examinations, and likewise, in all other re- 

 spects, endeavoured to promote the objects of the Expedition. 



* Spanish piastre = 4s. 4d. at par. 



