ISLAND OF FATAL. 113 



Fayal rising- to the height of 3000 feet, its sides 

 gradually sloping- towards a rang'e of maritime cliffs, 

 while the lower g-rounds, in full cultivation, indi- 

 cated—along with numbers of neat white-washed 

 cottages and occasional villag-es— a well peopled 

 and fertile country, contrasting strongly with those 

 from which we had lately returned. To the right 

 was Pico— with the summit of its peak (stated to he 

 7613 feet in height) peeping out from a mass of 

 snowy clouds descending almost to the shore— and 

 the centre was occupied by the more distant island of 

 St. Jorge with a portion of Graciosa dimty seen 

 projecting beyond its western end. 



After having been for two months cooped up on 

 board ship, I was glad to have a quiet walk on 

 shore. In a ravine at one end of the town it was 

 pleasing to see numbers of old acquaintances among 

 the birds, bringing vividly to my recollection that 

 home which we had now approached so closely. 

 Martins were ha\\king- about, the whitethroat 

 warbled his short snatches of song among the bushes, 

 and blackbirds and starlings flew past. And al- 

 though engaged in the matter-of-fact occupation of 

 searching for land-shells, by turning over the stones, 

 I could not help being- struck with the beauty of 

 the terraced walks and overhanging gardens ; the 

 beautiful belladonna lily -here run wild in great 

 abundance— made a fine show. At Point Greta 

 the rock pigeons— the original stock of the domesti- 

 cated race— \v ere flying about in large flocks or 



VOL. II. I 



