MADEIRA. 



The passage between the Desertas andMadeira 

 is considered to be about eleven miles across. 

 The Desertas stretch nearly north-north-west 

 and south-south-east, and may be five leagues 

 in extent ; they have an abrupt, barren appear- 

 ance, with steep, rugged, perpendicular rocks 

 descending to the sea ; on the largest island 

 there was some appearance of cultivation, and 

 the tufa, or red volcanic ash, imparts that colour 

 to several parts of the island ; there is a high 

 pyramidal rock, resembling a needle or pillar, 

 situated about the north-west part of the group, 

 which at a distance is like a ship under sail. 



By eight a. m. the heat of the sun had dissi- 

 pated the gloomy mist which had previously been 

 pending over and concealing the beautiful fea- 

 tures of the island of Madeira, and caused it to 

 burst forth in all its luxuriance and beauty ; the 

 northern part of the island had a very sombre, 

 barren aspect, when compared with the fertility 

 of the southern ; the plantations, glowing in 

 varied tints, interspersed with neat white villas 

 and small villages, gave much animation and 

 picturesque beauty to the scene. 



Early in the morning is the time best calcu- 

 lated to view the island clearly, as the sun, 

 gradually emerging from the dense masses 

 of clouds which have previously enveloped 



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