SEPT. 1768 MADEIRA 



Adam and Eve dwelt before the fall, for had it been so, the 

 inhabitants here would never have been induced to put on 

 clothes ; so much are they resolved in every particular to 

 follow exactly the paths of their forefathers." 



Indeed, were the people here only tolerably industrious, 

 there is scarcely any luxury which might not be produced 

 that either Europe or the Indies afford, owing to the great 

 difference of climate observable in ascending the hills. This 

 we experienced on a visit to Dr. Heberden, who lives about two 

 miles from the town ; we left the thermometer when we set 

 out at 74, and found it there 'at 66. The hills produce 

 almost spontaneously vast quantities of walnuts, chestnuts, and 

 apples, but in the town you find some few plants natives of both 

 the Indies, whose nourishing state puts it out of all doubt, 

 that were they taken any care of, they might have any quantity 

 of them. Of such they have the banana (Musa sapientum, 

 Linn.) in great abundance, the guava (Psidium pyriferum, 

 Linn.) not uncommon, and the pine-apple (Bromelia Ananas, 

 Linn.) of this I saw some very healthy plants in the provi- 

 sion-garden, the mango (Mangifera indica, Linn.) one plant 

 also of this in the same garden bearing fruit every year, and 

 the cinnamon (Laurus Cinnamomum, Linn.) very healthy 

 plants of which I saw on the top of Dr. Heberden's house 

 at Funchiale, which had stood there through the winter 

 without any kind of care having been taken of them. 

 These, without mentioning any more, seem very sufficient to 

 show that the tenderest plants might be cultivated here 

 without any trouble ; yet the indolence of the inhabitants 

 is so great, that even that is too much for them. Indeed, 

 the policy here is to hinder them as much as possible 

 from growing anything themselves except what they find 

 their account in taking in exchange for corn, though the 

 people might with much less trouble and expense grow 

 the corn themselves. What corn does grow here (it is not 

 much) is of a most excellent quality, large-grained and very 

 fine. Their meat also is very good, mutton, pork, and beef 

 more especially, which was agreed by all of us to be very 

 little inferior to our own, though we Englishmen value ourselves 



