CAMACHA AND THE MOUNT 81 



unfold their pure white flowers in November, and 

 continue in one unceasing succession until the late 

 spring or early summer. The path winds up the 

 opposite hill-side, through a group of peasants' huts, 

 where yapping dogs and begging children for a few 

 minutes mar the harmony and repose of the scene, 

 and then again the path enters another silent valley, 

 until the little village of the Mount is reached. 

 A colony of countless little quintas, which have 

 sprung up under the shelter and protection of the 

 Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, has of late 

 years become a more favourite summer resort than 

 Camacha. The air may not be quite so pure and 

 cool, but the proximity of the town and the con- 

 venience of the funicular railway are, no doubt, 

 responsible for its growing popularity. 



The principal villa, the Quinta do Monte, 

 formerly owned by an Englishman, has large 

 grounds, planted with many rare trees and shrubs. 

 The property has changed hands ; the house is 

 no longer inhabited, and the garden is falling 

 into decay. As the grounds were always more 

 pleasure-grounds than actual flower-gardens, it 

 has suffered less than a smaller garden, which 

 misses the personal care of its owner. The 

 camellia-trees are an immense size, and have out- 



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