MADEIRA. 19 



described. These nuns support themselves chiefly by the 

 manufacture and sale of artificial flowers and fruits, with a 

 few other ornamental productions. The former are made of 

 dyed feathers and the fruit of wax, and are prized by many 

 visitors as affording a pleasing remembrance of their sojourn 

 in the island. 



The dwellings are from one to two stories high, and the 

 apartments are large and well lighted, but owing to the 

 material of which they are constructed stone, and the iron- 

 grated windows of the ground-floor they have a gloomy, 

 cheerless aspect. Nearly every house has a kind of turret on 

 the top, from which can be had a fine view of the harbor. 

 The principal object of these is, for the inhabitants to look 

 out for vessels ; the first thing to be done in the morning being 

 to mount the turret to see if any strange vessel had arrived in 

 the course of the night. 



The streets are narrow, and in some parts very steep, but 

 they are kept clean. In the principal streets are some very 

 good stores, kept by Englishmen, who are by far the most 

 numerous of the foreigners that reside on the island. 



The market is very good. Beef of good quality can be had 

 for eight cents per Ib. ; fowls for thirty-seven cents ; eggs for 

 eight cents per dozen ; vegetables and fruits of every descrip- 

 tion also are abundant. Clothing is as cheap as with us> and 

 boots and shoes considerably cheaper ; and I may here add, 

 that this is the case with everything which is made on the 

 island, and it is to be attributed to the cheapness of labor, the 

 highest wages commanded by mechanics not exceeding twelve 

 dollars per month. 



In passing through the streets of Funchal, you meet with 

 many of the country people, who have come either to trade or 

 to obtain employment. They are a hardy, athletic race, and 



