Funchal and its Gardens 



look in at his club, and to take part in a pro- 

 longed rubber, you will not see him again for 

 some time. To those accustomed to the enter- 

 prise of northern countries, such a neglect of 

 an opportunity of profitable business, and such 

 disregard of public convenience are very sur- 

 prising. Even in such a poor country as 

 Norway you may find a telephone wire in the 

 remotest mountain valleys. The Portuguese 

 lament the poverty of their country and them- 

 selves. In this and kindred matters is to be 

 found its explanation. They are accustomed 

 to throw the blame on the Government ; but do 

 not peoples enjoy the governments, like the 

 religions, they deserve ? 



It would not be very difficult, nor over- 

 whelmingly costly, to make a fine drive round 

 the mountain basin above the town, at an alti- 

 tude of from 500 to 800 feet. To judge from 

 the fragments of roads which exist, some such 

 scheme may have been at some time contem- 

 plated. The French would do it in a year or 

 two ; but to judge from the general rate of 

 progress here, it will remain undone for 

 centuries. 



Yet in its aloofness from the modern stream 



39 



