AFRICAN ISLANDS. 215 



America, The Portuguese, not finding it so profitable as at first, 

 have rooted up the greatest part of their sugar-canes, and planted 

 vineyards in their stead, which produce several sorts of excellent 

 wine, particularly that which bears the name of the island, Malmsey, 

 and Tent ; of all which the inhabitants make and sell prodigious 

 quantities. Not less than 20,000 hogsheads of Madeira, it is said, 

 are yearly exported, the greatest part to the West Indies, especially 

 to Barbadoes ; the Madeira wine not only enduring a hot climate bet- 

 ter than any other, but even being improved when exposed to the 

 sun in barrels after the bung is taken out. It is said no venomous 

 animal can live here. Of the two other islands, one called Porto 

 Santo, which lies at a small distance from Madeira, is about eight 

 mnes in compass, and extremely fertile. It has very good harbours, 

 where ships may ride with safety against all winds except the south- 

 west, and is frequented by Indiamen outward and homeward bound? 

 The other island is an inconsiderable barren rock. 



AZORES. Leaving the Madeiras, with which we close the ac- 

 count of Africa, we continue our course westward, through this im- 

 mense ocean, which brings us to the Azores, or, as they are called, 

 the Western Islands, situate between 25 and 32 deg. west long, and 

 between 37 and 40 deg. north lat 900 miles west of Portugal, and as 

 many east of Newfoundland, lying almost in the mid-way between 

 Europe and America. They are nine in number, and are named 

 Santa Maria, St. Miguel, or St. Michael, Tercera, St. George, Gra- 

 ciosa, Fayal, Pico, Flores, and Corvo. They were discovered in the 

 middle of the fifteenth century, by Joshua Vander Berg, a merchant 

 of Bruges in Flanders, who, in a voyage to Lisbon, was, by stress of 

 weather, driven to these islands, which he found destitute of inhabi- 

 tants, and called them the Flemish islands. On his arrival at Lisbon, 

 he boasted of this discovery ; on which the Portuguese set sail im- 

 mediately and took possession of them, which they still retain. They 

 were called in general the Azores, from the great number of hawks 

 and falcons found among them. All these islands enjoy a very clear 

 and serene sky, with a salubrious air, but are exposed to violent earth- 

 quakes, from which they have frequently suffered; and also by inun- 

 da ions of the surrounding waves. They are, however, extremely 

 fertiie in corn, wine, and a variety of fruits ; they also abound in cat- 

 tle, fowls, kc. It is said that no poisonous or noxious animal breeds 

 on the Azores, and that, if carried thither, they will expire in a few 

 hours. 



St. Michael, which is the largest, being near 100 miles in circum- 

 ference, and containing 50,000 inhabitants, was twice invaded and 

 plundered by the English in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Tercera 

 is the most important of these islands on account of its harbour, which 

 is spacious and has good anchorage ; but it is exposed to the south- 

 east winds. Its capital town, Angra, contains a cathedral and five 

 churches, and is the residence of the governor of these islands, as wel! 

 as of the bishop. 



