MADEIRA. — PORT PRAYA. 19 



down, the boilers were blown off, the paddles 

 were disconnected, and we were under sail again 

 in less than two hours from the time we had been 

 becalmed. 



Fortunately we had fine weather in crossing 

 the bay. In twelve days after we had left Mil- 

 ford we were in sight of Madeira, having had a 

 fair wind the whole way. This beautiful island, 

 with its bold and lofty outline, assumed a thou- 

 sand different forms as, impelled by the first 

 faint breathing of the N. E. trade wind, we sailed 

 slowly by it, and at every changing prospect 

 felt the full justice of the encomiums we had 

 heard lavished on its charms. Indeed, so attract- 

 ive did this isolated little paradise appear to us, 

 even from the distance at which we viewed it, 

 that we fain would have lingered on our way to 

 enjoy the contemplation of its beauties. The 

 balmy freshness of the air — the serenity of the 

 sky — the tranquil and engaging appearance of 

 the island, reposing as it were on the bosom of 

 the ocean as the abode of peace and happiness, 

 produced in our minds sensations of delight, and 

 formed a grateful contrast to the bustle and tur- 

 moil — the inconvenience and confinement of a 

 ship. On the 17th we anchored in Port Praya. 



c 2 



