A RAMBLE ALONG THE COAST 101 



tions gave quite a tropical aspect to the gardens 

 about Funchal ; they have been largely replaced of 

 late years by sugar-cane, and are no longer so 

 extensively cultivated as the facilities due to 

 cold storage on ships flooded the European 

 market with bananas of the West Indies. Several 

 varieties are grown, but the fruit of the silver 

 banana, a tall growing kind, is most prized and 

 fetches a higher price than that of the dwarf 

 Musa CavendishiL In an old account of Madeira, 

 printed in Astley's " General Collection of Voyages 

 and Travels," the following curious account of 

 the plant appears : " The banana is in singular 

 esteem and even veneration, being reckoned for 

 its deliciousness the forbidden fruit. To confirm 

 this surmise they allege the size of its leaves. 

 It is considered almost a crime to cut this fruit 

 with a knife, because after dissection it gives a 

 faint similitude of a crucifix ; and this they say 

 is to wound Christ's sacred image." 



Sufficient lemons and citrons are grown to 

 supply the requirements of the island. The 

 custard apple, Anona cherimolia, ranks high 

 among the island fruits, and is hailed with delight 

 when it first appears in the market in late autumn. 

 In common with the guava, it was originally 



