A SuB-TRoncAL Garden in Madeira. 9 



cinnamon, silver banana, and mango tree, of the 

 " Olea fragrans " and Francisia buslies, of the 

 quaint " bottle-brush " plant, ^vith its crimson 

 flower. The verandah ol' the villa is covered with 

 " Bougainvillia," and with another creeper, novel 

 to me, the '' Com1)retimi coccinium," oflering a 

 mass of scarlet bloom. For the purpose of strolling 

 through the town, our kind host provided a couple 

 of hammocks, with their attendant bearers in white 

 canvas clothing, and a '' caro," or covered sledge, 

 comfortably titted, drawn by Ijullocks. This 

 ^'ehicle, which I imagine is peculiar to Madeira, 

 can he drawn l^y the sleek oxen with considerable 

 speed and perfect smoothness oxer the well-paved 

 streets, or rather paths, which intersect the town 

 and ascend the mountains. The public gardens, 

 the opera house, a visit to the British Consul, to 

 Messrs. Bland\''s ^\'ell-known office, and to the 

 comfortable English club, exhaust the small time 

 at our disposal, and soon after noon we are once 

 more on board the Grantnlly Gasfle, heading- 

 south to Cape de A'^erde, leaving hist, but some- 

 Avhat reluctantly, Madeira behind us. 



The hour of 5"30 a.m. finds two or three pas- 

 sengers on deck enjoying the pleasures of a cup of 

 coffee and the first morning cigarette. From six 

 to eight the ship's toilette proceeds, from the rough- 

 and-ready washing and scrubbing of decks to the 

 conscientious and minute polishing of every bit of 

 wood and brass-work. This is, perhaps, the 

 pleasantest time of the day ; cool, fresh air, peace- 

 ful decks unobstructed bv chairs ; walking exercise 



