INTRODUCTION 3 



some form or another. The cultivation may take 

 the form of some cared-for garden, where trees, 

 shrubs, and creepers from the tropics may be 

 flourishing side by side with more familiar vegeta- 

 tion, or may merely be the little terraced patch of 

 ground surrounding the humblest cottage, where 

 the harvest of the crop be it sugar-cane, batata 

 (sweet potato), or yam is eagerly looked forward 

 to, in order to eke out the very slender means of 

 its habitants. 



The feelings of Edward Bowdick, as described 

 in "Excursions to Madeira and Porto Santo in 

 1823," must often have been re-echoed by many 

 a visitor who sees the island for the first time : 

 " To those who have visited the tropics nothing 

 can be more gratifying than to find the trees they 

 have there dwelt on with so much pleasure, and 

 which are decidedly the most beautiful part ot 

 the Creation ; to be reminded of the vast solitudes, 

 where vegetable nature seems to reign uncontrolled 

 and untouched ; to see the bright blue sky through 

 the delicate pinnated leaves of the mimosa, whilst 

 the wood strawberry at its feet recalls the still 

 dearer recollection of home ; to gather the fallen 

 guavas with one hand and the blackberry with the 

 other ; to be able to choose between the apples 



12 



