2 MOUNT CHURCH. ANCHORAGE. [chap. i. 



hills and genial air seem to promise prolonged life and re- 

 stored health ; to another, the colours of hope have faded 

 from a mind filled with thoughts of the many, cut off in their 

 prime, that already rest within the bosom of those iron rocks ; 

 but to persons who view this favoured land without any such 

 peculiar associations either to cheer or sadden the scene, it 

 presents, simply as an object to the sight and senses, a land- 

 scape of surpassing beauty. 



MOUNT CHURCH. 



One of the most conspicuous objects on your first approach- 

 ing Madeira is the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, the 

 Lady of the Mount. This church serves as a land-mark to 

 the heretic sailor, and is far more dear to the Roman Catholic 

 for other reasons. As he approaches he sees the church of 

 the saint who has protected him across the angry wave ; as he 

 departs he looks to the mount, and offers a vow to the Lady 

 in whose help he trusts during his perilous voyage *. 



ANCHORAGE. 



The anchorage is not good, and woe betide you if the sea 

 comes swelling in from the south when you are in the roads. 

 This sometimes happens without any wind, and you have the 

 extraordinary phenomenon of shipwrecks in a calm, from the 

 mere swell and roll of the Atlantic. 



* Offerings are frequently made to our Lady before a voyage; the inha- 

 bitants relate a mirncle that was performed by this Saint when the island was 

 once threatened with famine. A pilgrimage was made to the mount by the 

 principal inhabitants to propitiate A T ossa Senhora, and in the morning a ves- 

 sel laden with corn arrived from Lisbon. On examination, the clothes of 

 the Saint proved to be saturated with sea-water. The sailors also related that 

 during a calm a white figure had risen from the ocean and dragged them into 

 the bay! 



