AZORES. 



over the island in farm-house*. There are some public 

 schools established by government but the pupils are not numerous, 

 and the instruction is limited. The trade of the island is of small 

 amount Orange*, aome corn, and a considerable quantity of brown 

 clay for pottery are carried to St Michael'* : part of the corn produced 

 ia exported to Portugal. There are on the island horned cattle, sheep, 

 pigs, goats, horses, and aasea. 



9. Mickatft, the largest and moat important of the islands, 

 lie* a little south of 38 N. lat, between 26 and 26 W. long. It i* 

 about 86 mile* long, and from 6 to 9 miles wide ; the area is about 

 147,200 acres, of which 8100 acre* are in orange gardens, 2400 acres 

 in vineyards, and 40,000 acre* arable : the population of the island U 

 about 80,000. 



Nearly the whole of the island exhibit* signs of volcanic agency, 

 and presents a great variety of surface. The greatest elevation occurs 

 near it* eastern extremity, which is formed by a mountain mass ter- 

 minating in several summits, the highest of which, the Pico da Vara, 

 attains 8500 feet above the sea level. Two other peaks rise respectively 

 to 2987 and 2455 feet The shores of this tract are very high, and in 

 some places rise to more than 1200 feet This part of the island has 

 no trace* of volcanic agency ; it is well watered and produces abund- 

 ance of grain of all aorta, and the mountains are covered with woods. 

 Contiguous to this tract on the west is a region of very uneven surface, 

 *bnt of less elevation. It comprehends the Valley of the Furnaces or 

 Hot Wells. The Urge depression of the valley is partly occupied by 

 a lake one mile long and half a mile broad. This lake is 995 feet above 

 the aea level, but the peaks which inclose the "valley rise to heights 

 varying from about 1 500 feet to 2800 feet This division is abundantly 

 watered by frequent showers in summer, and more continuous falls of 

 rain at other seasons. As the soil consists of scoria, lava, and other 

 volcanic matter, which has not been decomposed, the country has a 

 barren aspect, but where cultivated it produces excellent fruit. In 

 the centre of the island the country rises higher, and becomes moun- 

 tainous. The Sierra da Agoa de Pan, which is 3060 feet above the 

 sea, contain* a great number of separate volcanic cones, varying 

 between 1800 and 8600 feet in height They are chiefly composed of 

 pumice and scoria. From want of cohesive power in the matter 

 which composes these cones the heavy rains cut deep gorges in their 

 idea and frequently cause landslips. The lower part of thin tract 

 contains numerous vineyards, orchards, and orange plantations. The 

 westeiu part of St Michael's appears to have been more subject to 

 volcanic changes than any other. It contains in its centre a valley of 

 elliptical form, called the Sete Citades, which is 8 miles long and 

 24 mile* broad. On the south-east is a chain 2 miles long, terminating 

 in the Pico de Carvao, which is 2632 feet above the sea. The greater 

 part of the interior of this valley is occupied by two lakes. In this 

 tract are two hot springs which rise up in the sea below high-water 

 mirk. Throughout the island hot springs are frequent, except in the 

 eastern districts and the country between Delgada and Ribeira Grande. 



Although the climate is variable both as to heat and humidity, it is 

 very temperate, and the changes do not materially affect health or 

 comfort The mean temperature in winter is 62 and in summer 

 69-5. The extremes of the whole year are 46 and 84, in winter 46 

 and "e*, and in summer 46 and 84, in February 48 and 72, and in 

 Anoint 64 and 84*. The mean annual quantity of rain is 30 inches 

 near the level of the sea, and probably not less than 50 inches on the 

 mountains. Sometimes there is no rain from the beginning of April 

 to the end of September, causing deficiency in the grain harvest The 

 prevailing winds are from the north-east and north-west 



The inhabitants, who are Portuguese, are industrious ; their prin- 

 cipal occupation is the cultivation of the ground. The grains which 

 are most extensively cultivated are wheat, Indian corn, and beans. 

 Tarn* and bananas succeed in several places on the southern coast 

 The pasture-grounds on the more rugged portions of the island are 

 extensive. Ail the domestic animals of Southern Europe are kept, 

 but the breeds are indifferent Of wild quadrupeds only rabbit*, 

 ferrets, and weasels are noticed, with rats and mice. There are many 

 kinds of birds, mostly those of small size ; fish is rather abundant 

 along the shore*. 



The capital of the island, Ponte IMyatta, u built on the southern 

 shore. When the wind is south, the harbour here is unsafe. The 

 town i* surrounded by extensive orchards and orange plantations : the 

 population, which includes many English families, is upwards of 

 80,000. Alayoa, farther east, has a small port and 4000 inhabitant* ; 

 and rain Prmea, still farther east, 6000 inhabitants, some of whom 

 an employed in the manufacture of a coarse kind of pottery. In the 

 vicinity of these places are extensive plantations of oranges and vine- 

 Tards, On the northern coast is the town of Rihnrn Grande, with 

 11,000 inhabitant*. It has no harbour, being hemmed in by reefs of 

 rocks, which run out some distance from the shore. It i* irregularly 

 built, the houses forming narrow irregular streets along the coast It 

 ha* -.me manufactures of coarse w>.,l)en 1-ith ami linen. 



The nntnhrr of English vessels which annually visit St Michael's 

 1* abnut 200. and aVmt the same number sail between St Mi 

 and PortngaL American and Brazilian Teasel* are few. The English 

 take away orange*, of which many thousand boxes are annually 

 exported. Tho other agricultural productions, especially corn and 

 , arc carried to Portugal The importation from England con- 



extremity, where it is widest; whence it gradually grows 

 T as it proceeds farther east, until it terminates in a forked 



AZORES. no 



sists of several kinds of textile fabrics, iron-ware, and corn ; those 

 from Brazil of hide* and colonial produce; the Americans bring 

 timber and whale-oil, and the Portuguese liquors, textile fabrics, 

 colonial produce, silver coin, soap, ami hatw. Considerable quantities 

 of tea, tobacco, spices, silks, Ac., are smuggled into the island. The 

 annual average amount of imports in 1836-40 was 95,312A ; that of 

 export* was 1 84,74 W. The value of the principal imports into St. 

 Michael's in 1840 was 121,9957. ; in 1841 it \\-M 124.328/. Tl 

 largest items were cotton and woollen goods from Great Britain, and 

 corn and liquors from Portugal. During 1841 there srrived at St 

 Michael's 394 vessels of 34,092 tons, of which 198 of 16,072 tons were 

 British, and 176 of 12,784 tons were Portuguese. The other vessels 

 called chiefly for refreshment*. 



This island was discovered in 1444 by Cabral, and was settled in the 

 following year. 



Pirn, so called from the remarkable volcano which it contains, and 

 which is called 'the Peak' (Pico), lies between 88 16' and 88 88' X. 

 lat, 28 8' and 28 42' W. long. It extends from west-north-west to 

 east-south-east about 45 miles, and is about 8 miles wide towards it* 

 western 



narrower as it proceeds farther east, i 

 rock hardly a mile in width. The average width is about 5 mile*. 

 The area is about 225 square miles. , 



The coast-line is bordered by rugged rocks ; at Lagens on the south 

 coast is a small cove, in which small craft find shelter. The western 

 districts present the most rocky surface. The country rises from the 

 shores towards the peak, which occupies the centre of this part 

 of the island. The country round the volcano and even the 

 lower parts of its sides are richly cultivated, principally with 

 vineyards; there are also gardens and orange-groves. From the 

 cultivated grounds to within a third of the distance from the 

 summit the sides of the peak are thickly covered with splendid 

 cedars, the Myrica Paya, the white yew, immense juniper*, myrtles, 

 and tree-ferns, beyond which point vegetation begins to decline, 

 and on approaching the top of the peak nothing is seen but 

 moos and lichens. From the eastern base of the volcano a high 

 ground runs eastward to Cape Calhagrossa, the eastern extrcn 

 the island. It occupies the middle of the island, and descends with 

 a very broken surface towards the northern and southern shores. 

 Though this part of the island also consists of lava-rocks it contains 

 a much larger portion of cultivable laud, but is not HO well cultivated 

 as the country round the volcano. The southern declivities nre much 

 better cultivated than those which slope towards the northern shores, 

 which are less covered with soil. 



The chief article of produce is wine. It goes by the name of Fayal 

 wine, because it is exported to foreign countries from Horta, the capital 

 of the island of Fayal. Great quantities of fruit are also sent to 

 Fayal. Grain and pulse are grown sufficient for the consumption of 

 the population ; the onions of Pico are much valued, and large qu.in- 

 :' thmi are disposed of to American m iders. The 



cedar and white yew are greatly prized fur furniture. Pasture-grounds 

 abound on the higher part of the ridge, where n large number of 

 are bred for the wool, which is worked by the natives into clothing 

 for home consumption ; goats are still more numerous. Cattle abound 

 and are of a fine breed. In many places orchilla is collected. 



The climate is mild, neither the cold of the winter nor the heat of 

 the summer being intense, but it is very irregular. Showers of rain 

 are frequent throughout the year, and in the winter so violent as to 

 cause constant changes in the face of the country. This island, like 

 the other Azores, is subject to incessant gales, which render tin- 

 approach to it dangerous to vessels. Earthquakes are frequent, and 

 four eruptions of the volcano are on record. Three of them occurred 

 in the 16th century, and the last in 1718, which burnt from the 

 western side of the peak and ov i large portion of tip 



best vineyards. 



The population, which is stated at 30,000, consist* of Portuguese 

 descent They are an industrious race, and are settled on the shores 

 of the island, where they live in neat white cottages, with bright, 

 cane-reed thatched, conical roofs. 



The capital i Layn*, a small place built round a little cove. In 

 the strait which divides Pico from Kayal. hut nt a short dist.m. , fr.Mii 

 Pico are two immense masses of red volcanic rock, called the Isles 

 of Magdelena, and between them and Pico is an anchorage in six to 

 eight fathoms. Opposite to them is the town of Magdelena Criaeao- 

 r Hut. whence the produce of Pico (wine, brandy, fruits) is shipped to 

 Fayal, and where tin- rieh inhabitants of Hrwta have villas. 



li neither the largest nor the most fert 

 i"l,ni'l of the Azores, is situated nearly i- 



centra of the group, mnl n the seat of government It extend* 

 between 88 86' and 88 50' N. lat, 26 68' and 27 22' W. long., and 

 in shout 20 miles long from east to west, with an average width of 

 about 13 miles: the population is about 40,000. 



Tereeira does not exhibit that extreme irregularity which occurs in 

 the other islands. The coasts indeed are rocky and precipitous, but 

 the higher part* of the inland are chiefly composed of beautiful and 

 fertile plains, and are entirely destitute of cones, craters, and peaks. 

 There is however, about 6 or 7 miles north-west from the town of Angra, 

 a wide depression, called Furnas de Euiofre, from the crevices of which 



