THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 11 



of the Janella, which, unlike the other two, sends its water to 

 the north. 



It was a day of most exquisite beauty, and thoroughly 

 enjoyed by all of us. We found our horses awaiting us at the 

 landing-place, and after having captured a large sphinx-moth, 

 which was flying about over the stones, we mounted, and accom- 

 panied by our guides, who occasionally aided their progression 

 by holding on to the quadrupeds' tails, rode out of the town 

 at a brisk pace. The ride, as all who have accomplished it 

 will acknowledge, is a singularly interesting one, the track 

 lying through valleys and along the side of steep hills, alike 

 richly clothed with vegetation, and commanding numerous fine 

 views of the surrounding country ; and the horses are admir- 

 ably trained, very sure-footed, and most willing animals. 



The distribution of the plants, native and cultivated, as 

 influenced by the height above the sea-level, was very curious 

 to observe as we gradually ascended the mountain-sides. On 

 the lower ground, vines, guavas, figs, yams, bananas, maize, 

 sugar-cane, prickly pears, and small palms, abounded, while at 

 a higher level walnut and sweet chestnut trees prevailed. A 

 wonderfully accurate register of the increase of elevation to 

 which we attained was afforded by the vine alone ; for in the 

 neighbourhood of Funchal the grapes were all gathered, higher 

 up a few over-ripe looking bunches were still to be seen ; 

 still higher the fruit was in perfection, while at the utmost 

 limit of the plant, the bunches were not in a sufficiently 

 advanced condition to gather. Eoses, fuchsias, and geraniums, 

 ran wild along the roadside on the lower ground ; the beautiful 

 belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna) was in profusion at a 

 higher level ; farther up the mountain-side occurred a well- 

 marked zone of a species of broom (Spartium virgatum) with 

 small yellow flowers, and this was in its turn succeeded by a 

 stout and tall-growing heath {Erica arbor ea). This succession 



