4 MADEIRA METEOROLOGIC. PART i 



able darkness a crevice of unknown gloom, where wave 

 after wave of the Atlantic, impelled by the ever-urging 

 north-east wind, first lifting itself up on the farthest 

 visible brink with all its foaming fury of resistance, 

 plunged unwillingly in, and was lost to our sight for ever. 



After speeding along some miles of that horizontal 

 crevice of gray perplexing mystery, positive forms of 

 jagged rocks began to protrude themselves, combating 

 with the waves. This was Cape San Lorenzo at the 

 eastern end of Madeira. But who ever saw such rocks 

 before ? They were mere remains of an old volcanic 

 island in the act, though slowly through the ages, of 

 breaking to pieces and sliding down into very deep 

 water ; headlands of basaltic lava cracked off, or slunk 

 away, from their central fastnesses, and now hurtling 

 against each other amongst ocean's hungry waves, roar- 

 ing around them for the remainder of their prey. So 

 that surely any one beholding the scene might well be 

 excused for recalling these grand words of old belief in 

 a higher case " Therefore will we not fear, though the 

 earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried 

 into the midst of the sea ; though the waters thereof roar 

 and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the 

 swelling thereof." 



But at last, on our good ship fairly reaching the 

 southern side of the island, the hitherto impenetrable veil 

 of clouds on clouds over all the sky began to break up ; 

 the rays of the afternoon sun, as it transfused their sub- 



