Preface 



about Madeira. This is not surprising, as for 

 more than two centuries the island has been the 

 resort of our countrymen for business, health, 

 or pleasure, and was for a short period under 

 "^he British flag. Most of these books are 

 serious works, written by scientific men, and 

 dealing with the climate, the meteorology, the 

 flora, and other natural features. Of the rest, 

 many have been produced by casual visitors, 

 who, on the strength of a stay of a few weeks 

 and a perusal of previous authorities, have felt 

 qualified to enlighten the public. Such persons 

 sometimes have an irritating trick of writing 

 about well-known places with an air of having 

 discovered them. The following pages do not 

 fall into either class. I do not assume to 

 impart any information of value ; and as it has 

 been my good fortune to pass many winters in 

 the island, I cannot plead ignorance as an 

 excuse for my shortcomings and mistakes. 



C. T.-S. 



IX 



