THE AZORES 



529 



1 



The coaches are 

 loaded with baskets 

 full of flowers and 

 confetti. Soon the 

 street and park be- 

 come a solid mass of 

 people, and the prog- 

 ress of the vehicles is 

 obstructed. Then the 

 battle begins and 

 rages everywhere un- 

 til the battlefield is 

 covered with a thick 

 carpet of flowers and 

 confetti, and the im- 

 maculately dressed 

 women and girls, 

 flushed with the ex- 

 citing hardship of at- 

 tack and defense, pre- 

 sent a fascinating pic- 

 ture. 



PONT A DEIyGADA S 



WONDERFUL 



GARDENS 



Ponta Delgada has 

 some of the mast 

 wonderful botanical 

 gardens in the world. 

 They have been pro- 

 nounced by some as 

 ranking next to those 

 in Portugal, and by 

 others as inferior only 

 to the famous gar- 

 dens of Brazil. That 

 of Jose de Canto was 

 begun in 1848. Sehor 

 Canto was connected 

 with all the different 

 nurseries in the world, 

 and it was his ambi- 

 tion to gather speci- 

 mens of all the trees and plants that could 

 be obtained. The result is a marvelous 

 collection. 



The gardens contain tree ferns origi- 

 nally from Australia, many species of 

 palms (such as the date, sago, and fan), 

 Australia myrtle, great varieties of aloes, 

 magnificent roses and camellias, India- 

 rubber trees, banyan trees, acacias, mag- 

 nolias, dracenas, brilliant red flame trees, 

 screw-pines, and fine specimens of the 

 cedar of Lebanon. 



Photograph from A. T. Haeberle 

 AN AZOREAN PEASANT FAMIEY ENTERING PONTA DEEGADA TO 

 PARTICIPATE IN THE FESTIVITIES OP SANTO CHRISTO 



As they march along the road they sing native melodies to the 

 accompaniment of guitar, accordion, and violin. Note that all the 

 men of the family are barefooted. 



The dragon trees (Draccena draco) 

 grow well, and at Praia, in the southern 

 part of the island, there is a long avenue 

 of them. This species is exceptionally in- 

 teresting because of the famous dragon 

 tree of Orotava, on Teneriffe, that ex- 

 isted until 1867. Humboldt estimated its 

 age at 10,000 years. It is said to have 

 been so large that ten men with arms out- 

 stretched could scarcely surround it. 



St. Michaels does not distinguish itself 

 because of rare flowers. It is rather the 



