CHAPTER VIII 



A RAMBLE IN THE HIGHER ALTITUDES 



THE Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte is the 

 starting-point of many an expedition made by those 

 who have a wish to see more of the beauties of the 

 island than can be done within the restricted area 

 of Funchal. Should the Metade Valley be the 

 point chosen, or the bleak Pico Ariero, with its 

 enchanting views, or should the traveller be bent 

 on a longer tour, and be proposing to make the 

 little village of Santa Anna his headquarters for 

 seeing the beautiful scenery of the north side 

 of the island, the road up to a height of some 

 4,500 feet will be the same. Gradually the steep 

 path winds its way through the fir woods, which 

 in the early morning while the dew is still on 

 them, exude a delicious aromatic scent, and the 

 bushes of the little red Fuchsia coccinea and Rosa 

 Benghalensis, with its small double pink flowers, 

 and the clumps of belladonnas on the banks, which 

 at first give the landscape the appearance of a 



83 H_2 



