Toivn and Country Delights 



this season of the year the weather in the hills 

 is often less to be distrusted than it is a month 

 later. At an altitude of five thousand feet, 

 where snow may be lying to-morrow, you may 

 find to-day a blazing sun, and be glad to ride 

 in your shirt-sleeves. 



The mountain scenery of Madeira, consider- 

 ing its small area, is of surprising magnificence. 

 The island is a little smaller than the Isle of 

 Man, and about one-fourth larger than the Isle 

 of Wight. The distance from Funchal on the 

 south to Santa Anna on the north coast is only 

 fourteen miles as the crow flies ; yet so devious 

 is the road, so steep and numerous the ridges 

 to be crossed, that the journey involves a ride 

 of six or seven hours. Perhaps the most 

 characteristic scenery is to be found in the 

 valleys of the north side ; deep troughs which 

 run right into the heart of the central chain, 

 and at their head are surrounded by precipices 

 several thousand feet high. Shaded by their 

 aspect from the fiercer rays of the sun, and 

 enjoying a moist atmosphere, for the valleys 

 are often filled with cloud, these precipitous 

 cliff's are clothed, wherever it can find a foot- 

 ing, with a superb vegetation. The trees are 



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