chap. I.] S\° JORGE. SANTA ANNA. PICO RUIVO. 21 



S A .° JORGE. 



The next place of importance you reach is &.° Jorge ; 

 thence to Santa Anna is about an hour's ride. At S a .° Jorge 

 Dr. Oliviera has built a large house for himself, as a summer 

 residence, and is doing a public sen-ice by setting an example 

 of improved cultivation. 



SANTA ANNA. 



At Santa Anna you dismount at tbe house of Si 1- Luiz 

 Acciaioli, who unites to the attention of the host the manners 

 of the gentleman, and provides good accommodation on rea- 

 sonable terms. From Santa Anna there are excursions suffi- 

 cient to detain you there two or three days. 



PICO RUIVO. 



The ride from Santa Anna up Pico Ruivo is beautiful. 

 Passing through beds of furze, bilberry, and heather, you 

 have some of the most magnificent views in the island, and 

 look down on all sides on a grand variety. Many, however, 

 are the parties that have been disappointed in their visits to 

 the heights of Madeira. Starting perhaps with an unclouded 

 sky, you barely reach the summit before light mists have 

 begun to ascend from the valleys beneath you ; these quickly 

 gather, and enshroud you in an impenetrable veil. Woe 

 betide those who are separated at such times from their 

 guides : to find your way, without knowing the land-marks, 

 is impossible. Perhaps a goat-path presents itself to you 

 in your distress; you follow it along the edge of some 

 frightful chasm till it becomes undistinguishable ; you pro- 

 ceed, forcing your way through the underwood with which the 

 banks are clad hanging on where the descent is almost 



