14 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



narrow escape from being wrecked on the Stark Point, our 

 coming to anchor in Torbay, and a frightful debauch on 

 Devonshire clotted cream on shore at Brixham, which caused 

 a second edition of sea-sickness, concluded my adventures in 

 the Channel; and after realizing all the poetical descriptions 

 I had read of the Bay of Biscay, I was glad to encounter 

 milder breezes and smoother seas on approaching the verdant 

 island of Madeira, which was destined to be our first stage 

 en route for the far East. 



The island of Madeira itself, and the approach to it, has 

 been so often painted in prose, poetry, and pencil, by far 

 abler hands than mine, that I shall say no more about 

 it, except that during a week's stay at Funchal, I admired 

 all the natural beauties for which the place is famous ; and 

 smelt all the nasty smells for which it is infamous, enjoyed 

 the noble hospitaKty of a princely wine-merchant (Mr. 

 Blackbourne), drank more Malvoisie than was good for 

 my young brains ; consumed great quantities of sweetmeats 

 for the benefit of the nuns of the Convent of Sta. Maria; and 

 attempted the impracticable feat of galloping a Portuguese 

 donkey without a guide. Having completed our cargo of 

 "London particular," we sailed for Santa Cruz, on the 

 island of Teneriffe, at which place we arrived in a day or 

 two after our departure from Madeira, and where we were 

 destined to remain a longer period, and for the same pur- 

 pose, viz., taking in wines for the Indian market. The 

 " Constitution" having been lately proclaimed in Spain, the 

 place was very gay at this period, and the priests had lost 

 all their authority. The piazza was crowded with showy 

 uniforms, and graceful females, whose eyes gleamed through 

 their black mantillas, and made sad havoc with the hearts of 

 the cadets of the Orient, and I fancy some of their purses 

 also. A party, in which I was included, crossed the island 

 on mules, to the opposite port of Orotava, which is 



