32 OXEN. [chap. ii. 



dragged broadside on, presenting its side for the next wave to 

 wash over. On landing, after being accustomed to demure 

 English ways, you are scared at the hideous yells which seem 

 requisite whenever Portuguese strength is exerted. How- 

 ever, all is cleverly managed. 



OXEN. 



Where the boats are heavy, oxen are often employed to drag 

 them on shore. These animals convey all heavy goods. They 

 are harnessed to sledges, which are, in fact, nothing but flat 

 pieces of wood attached to a yoke. The oxen are preceded 

 by a man, who acts as their leader, and whom they follow 

 wherever he goes ; and driven by another, who holds in one 

 hand a goad, consisting of a long stick with an iron point 

 about an inch in length, and in the other a rag, which he wets 

 from time to time, and puts under the sledge to make it run 

 more smoothly on the stones and prevent its taking fire. 

 These men make most unearthly noises and screams, which 

 are intended to encourage the team. " Ca para Mem Boi" is 

 a familiar sound to all who have visited Madeira. The work 

 is severe for the oxen, and they are only employed three days 

 a week. They have lately been made fashionable animals by 

 the introduction of oxen-cars, or sledges, for human convey- 

 ance*. 



OXEN-CAR. 



* Captain C. Bulkeley, late of the 2nd Life Guards, first introduced these 

 useful vehicles into Madeira, in the year 1848. 



