98 Voyage of the Novara. 



San Lorenzo, with its petrified fauna ; — the awe-inspiring 

 Entroza pass, that wonderful sculpture of nature which bears 

 so powerful a witness to the corroding action of water ; — the 

 lovely and solitary cascade of Rabacal ; — the Pic Arrieiro, 

 with its craggy rocks, offering to the geologist such a remarkable 

 peep into the geognostical history of the island ; — the nume- 

 rous gigantic rocky skeletons of volcanic cones, on which the 

 geologist is able to make the most interesting studies and inves- 

 tigations, just in the same manner as the anatomist on a 

 corpse ; — all these wonders of nature are calculated to awaken 

 the reflection and excite the admiration of the beholder. 



The most delightful event during our stay in the island 

 was an excursion of several days, made to the romantic locali- 

 ties of the northern coast. A stately cavalcade of twenty- 

 two horsemen set out, early on a fine June morning, from 

 Funchal to Nossa Senhora, and from thence over the Pic 

 Poizo, through the glens of Metade to St. Anna. After a 

 ride of two hours, the Casa de Abrigo was reached, a small 

 house, situated about 4500 feet above the level of the sea, 

 erected by the Government some years ago for the shelter 

 of travellers. From this point the path runs through a hilly 

 country covered with heath, from which the majestic Pico 

 Ruivo, with the fantastic forms of its rugged volcanic walls 

 bathed in gold by the rays of the rising sun, presents a most 

 imposing sight. On the whole route only one small miserable 

 village, called Fayal, was passed, consisting of a few straw 

 thatched huts, exhibiting a picture of poverty and wretched- 



