34 PASSAGEFROMMADEIRA 
is surrounded by a variety of tropical trees, consisting of dates, cocoa- 
nuts, bananas, papayas, sugar-cane, and tamarinds, with grapes, 
oranges, limes, &c. &c, and when brought into comparison with the 
surrounding lands, may be termed an enchanting spot; but what 
adds peculiarly to its effect on a stranger, is the novelty of the objects 
that are brought together. Over the spring is a thatched roof, and 
round about it a group of the most remarkable objects in human 
shape that can well be conceived. On one side blind beggars, dirty 
soldiers, and naked children ; on another, lepers, boys with monkeys, 
others with fowls, half-dressed women, asses not bigger than sheep, 
and hogs of a mammoth breed ; to say nothing of those with cutane- 
ous disorders, &c. &c, that were undergoing ablution. All conspired 
to form a scene peculiar, I should think, to this semi-African popu- 
lation. Here sailors watering and washing, chatting, talking, and 
laughing; there a group of "far nieiite" natives of all sizes, shapes, 
and colours, half clothed, with turbaned heads and handkerchiefs 
of many and gay colours, tied on after a different fashion from 
what we had been accustomed to, the shawls being reversed, their 
ends hanging down behind instead of before, completely covering the 
breast, and one fourth of the face. - What portion of this group had 
honoured the place in consequence of our visit, it would be difficult 
to conjecture, all were eager, however, to derive some benefit from 
the meeting, particularly the beggars, who are equally pertinacious 
with those found elsewhere, and are certainly great objects of 
commiseration. This fountain barely supplies the wants of the 
inhabitants and shipping, and they are now about building a reser- 
voir. The whole of the stone for it was prepared in Portugal, and 
made ready for putting up. It is to be of marble. The water for 
its supply is brought two miles in iron pipes. It is said that it will 
cost $130,000, and is the only improvement that has been undertaken 
by government for many a year. 
A market is held daily in the morning when any vessels are in 
port. The square in which it is held is quite a large one, with a 
cross in its centre. The market is not of much extent, but a great 
variety of tropical fruits, of the kinds before enumerated, are exposed 
for sale in small quantities, as well as vegetables. These consist of 
cabbage-leaves, beans, pumpkins, squashes, corn, potatoes, yams, 
mandioca, &c. All these were spread out on the large leaves of the 
cocoa-nut tree. No kind of meat was for sale. The only articles 
of this description were chickens four or five days old, tied up in 
