8 MADEIRA. 



separated from the land, with bold, abrupt sides and broken outlines. 

 The character of these rocks is remarkable : they stand quite detached 

 from the adjoining cliffs, and some of them rise to a great height in a 

 slender form, with extremely rugged surfaces, and broken edges. 

 Through some, the waters have worn arched ways of large dimensions, 

 which afford a passage for the breaking surf, and would seem to 

 threaten ere long their destruction. 



Similar needle-form rocks are seen off the northern Deserta, an 

 island lying some miles east of Madeira. One of them is often 

 mistaken for a ship under sail, to which when first seen it has a 

 considerable resemblance. It stands like a slender broken column, 

 several hundred feet in height, on a base scarcely larger than its 

 summit. 



Funchal has a very pleasing appearance from the sea, and its 

 situation in a kind of amphitheatre formed by the mountains, adds to 

 its beauty. The contrast of the white buildings and villas with the 

 green mountains, forms a picture which is much heightened by the 

 bold quadrangular Loo Rock with its embattled summit commanding 

 the harbour in the foreground. 



The island throughout is rough and mountainous, but the steeps 

 are clothed with rich and luxuriant verdure. Terraces are visible 

 on every side, and every spot that the ingenuity of man could make 

 available has been apparently turned to advantage, and is diligently 

 cultivated. These spots form an interesting scene, particularly when 

 contrasted with the broken and wild background, with the white 

 cottages clustered at the sea-shore, and gradually extending themselves 

 upwards until the eye rests on the highest and most striking building, 

 that of the convent of Nostra Sefiora de Monte. 



Through the western half of the island runs a central ridge, 

 about five thousand feet high, on which is an extensive plain, called 

 Paul de Serra, which is mostly overgrown, and is used especially 

 for breeding mules and horses. The eastern portion of the island, 

 though quite elevated, is less so than the western. 



The valleys usually contain a strip of land of extreme fertility, 

 through which winds the bed of a streamlet, that becomes a mountain 

 torrent in the rainy seasons, but is nearly or quite dry in summer. 



The landing at Funchal is on a stony beach, and is accompanied 

 with some little difficulty, partly on account of the surf, but more 

 from the noise, confusion, and uproar made by the native boatmen 

 in their efforts to drag their boat up on the beach. This operation 

 they however understand, and are well accustomed to, and those who 

 desire to land dry, will be wise to employ them. 



