10 THE ESTEEITO. — THE JARDIM. [chap. I. 



by the roadsides, consists in sitting in the Mirdntes, or look- 

 out seats, and gazing on the passers-by. This seems quite 

 a national taste, from the laughing black eyes that quiz the 

 estrangeiros in then' queer costumes, to the old Morgado 

 in his flowered dressing-gown. There they sit all day, 

 whilst their dogs come barking at you along the tops of 

 the walls, cracking the drums of your ears by their mongrel 

 yelps. 



But to return to our party. We leave the road to Camera 

 de Lobos on our left, and begin to ascend in good earnest. 

 The road grows narrower and steeper ; still there is no inter- 

 mission of tbe gallop for horse or burroquero ; at last we 

 reach the church of 



THE ESTEEITO. 



Here the gentlemen of the advance guard dismount, to rest 

 their horses, and give time to those behind with timid nerves, 

 slow animals, or merciful hearts, to catch them up. But 

 who is that respectable individual in a gay robe, and cap 

 worked by some fair fingers ? It is the Padre of the Estreito. 

 He bows and smiles, and invites you, by signs, if you don't 

 understand Portuguese, to see the fine prospect from tbe top 

 of his church. But the rest of the party have assembled; 

 and, receiving the Padre's blessing in a friendly nod, perhaps 

 contributing some trifle for the poor, you mount your horses 

 and make the best of your way to 



THE JARDIM. 



You are now three thousand feet above the sea. This 

 beautiful place belongs to the late Consul, Mr. Veitch. He 

 has built his house in the Italiau style, and surrounded 

 it with woods of Spanish cbestnut. In the grounds near 



