24 SUMMARY, [chap. I. 



Metade Valley, the Eibeiro Frio, and Santa Anna ; to your 

 right are the Penha d'Aguia, Faial, and Porto da Cruz ; behind 

 you the Portella, Machico, Sl° Lourenco, Canical, and the 

 Serra de Santo Antonio. In fact, you have in sight almost 

 the whole of the east of the island. You may return by Santo 

 Antonio da Serra, passing through a country beautified with 

 fuchsias, geraniums, oaks, broom, gorse, corn, vines, &c. 



SUMMARY. 



To give a general summary of the appearance of the 

 island we may describe it thus : — It consists of a mass of moun- 

 tains, whose highest points rise to a central ridge. The whole 

 coast is composed of cliffs, varying in height from one hun- 

 dred to two thousand feet ; abrupt and lofty in their general 

 character on the north side of the island, and of a lower 

 smoother aspect on the south. The central mountains 

 branch down to the sea in ridges or chines, which are parted 

 by precipitous chasms, called here ravines, and which consti- 

 tute the grandest features of the Madeira scenery. In some 

 parts the ravines are full of dark forests, reflecting a solemn 

 shade on the precipices that support them. The towns are 

 for the most part planted in the bosoms of these ravines, 

 which certainly resemble one another, yet in each there is 

 sufficient individuality to relieve any feeling of monotony. 

 From the tops of the mountains you discover the sea on 

 all sides of you, but far from detracting from the grandeur of 

 the prospect, the limited extent of land rather adds to a feel- 

 ing of awe, when you consider that you are perched on a point, 

 as it were, in the midst of the vast Atlantic. 



