chap. i.J CALHETA. EXPEDITION TO SANTA ANNA. 19 



workmen were placed, and let down by means of ropes to 

 the point required. In this way they worked, subject to the 

 drippings of the cold stream above, and often with great diffi- 

 culty getting out of the way of the explosions from the blast- 

 ing of the rock. When this operation was finished, a tunnel 

 was to be bored through the end of the Paul da Serra, and a 

 levada six miles long constructed. The work was commenced 

 in 1836, and carried on for some years ; the course along the 

 face of the rock was actually completed to a length of 700 

 feet, and connected with a levada extending six miles ; but, 

 alas ! as far as the tunnel was concerned, want of funds inter- 

 fered, and half the project only was executed. The water, 

 consequently, still loses itself in the Ribeira Janella, and the 

 thirsty vines of the south still want what if bestowed upon 

 them would double their fertility *. The views of the Rabacal 

 are certainly amongst the finest in Madeira. 



CALHETA. 



Your road now continues to Calheta, where you find a very 

 good inn to rest at after your fatigues. The next day you 

 can either return to Funchal by water, if the wind and 

 weather suits, or make a land voyage of it, which, however, 

 is less pleasant, as the road is long and bad. 



EXPEDITION TO SANTA ANNA. 



Let us now start again from S a .° Vincente, and take the 

 eastward route to Santa Anna along the sea-coast. The road 

 leads by the shore across a stream, which at high water is 

 sometimes dangerous to pass, to Ponta Delgada, a pretty 



* The tunnel is now finished, and there are good hopes of the whole work 

 being completed. 



