chap, iv.] ROADS. — ELECTIONS. 89 



of Artillery; and a militia of 1168 men, who serve in the 

 forts along the sea-shore. All men, from 18 to 25 years of 

 age, are liable to enlistment in the regular army. 



It has been remarked that the Portuguese, under good 

 officers, make excellent soldiers ; Soult is said to have com- 

 plained once to Napoleon, after having engaged and been re- 

 pulsed by Portuguese troops officered by Englishmen, that the 

 English had taken an unfair advantage, and dressed their men 

 in Portuguese clothes, thereby tempting him to attack them 

 as the weakest part of the army. 



ROADS. 



All men, whether natives or foreigners, being permanent 

 residents, and of sufficient age and strength to work, are 

 obliged to contribute annually to the repairs and making of 

 roads, five days' manual labour, or pay one dollar for their 

 exemption. The estufa tax, of one dollar, 920 reis, per pipe 

 of wine per annum, is likewise applicable to this purpose and 

 the repairs of bridges. These means, if properly applied 

 to the excellent materials which are furnished by the basaltic 

 rocks, should ensure good highways. 



ELECTIONS. 



The elections in Madeira, as in the mother country, are 

 carried on in the churches, the priests being required to 

 identify the voters. The Portuguese who have 100 dollars 

 annual income, choose within the limits of their council 

 one or two electors, who go to the capital of the province, 

 where they jointly choose four deputies ; this election is by 

 secret scrutiny in both instances. Madeira and Porto Santo 

 together choose twenty-two electors, who elect four deputies 

 to represent them in the Lisbon Cortes. 



