chap. n.J BOATS. 31 



The horses in Madeira are fed chiefly on milho (Indian 

 corn). Milho may be bought for Is. h\d. the alqueire (two- 

 fifths of a bushel), retail price. An alqueire lasts four days if 

 the horse is allowed a quarter a day, and he works very well 

 on that. When the rnilho is crushed it is more nourishing, 

 and goes much further. Add one alqueire of bran, which will 

 cost you lOci.to every four alqueires of crushed milho, and it 

 will make a good mash for your horse, besides preventing 

 your groom from appropriating the com to his own use. The 

 fodder given to horses, which they call lierva, is a com- 

 pound of sugar-cane leaves, vine leaves when in season, and 

 other similar materials: bcl. a day of this is amply sufficient. 

 In going to the north of the island it is advisable to take 

 corn for the horses, as everything of that sort is dear 

 there. A race-course exists near Funchal, supported by 

 subscription ; not that there are often races upon it, but 

 it is almost the only place where you can get a gallop. 

 A ticket taken for the season enables a gentleman to admit 

 ladies. 



BOATS. 



The boats in Madeira are excellent. They are protected 

 against the danger of being stove in when hauled up on so 

 steep a shore by the contrivance of two false keels at the 

 sides. The boatman's charge is Is. 3d. an hour. The dex- 

 terity displayed by these men in launching their passengers 

 and landing them on the beach is very great. In the former 

 process they wait till a wave rises to the proper height, 

 then instantly shove the boat down to meet it, and the 

 passenger, seated within, finds himself drawn away on the 

 crest of the receding water. The least clumsiness would be 

 fatal. If the boat were run down before the wave broke, it 

 would probably break into it, and if too late, the boat would be 



