32 PASSAGE FROM MADEIRA 



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 cutaneous disorders, 

 &c. &c, that were undergoing ablution. All conspired to form a 

 scene peculiar, I should think, to this semi-African population. Here 

 sailors watering and washing, chatting, talking, and laughing ; there 

 a group of "far niente" 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 ac- 

 customed 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 well barely supplies the wants of the inhabitants and shipping, 

 and they are now about building a reservoir. 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 8130,000, and is the only im- 

 provement 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 bunches, 

 and some eggs. In order to obtain beef, it is necessary to buy the 

 cattle at the cattle-yard, where, on previous notice being given, you 

 may choose those that suit for slaughter. They are in general of 

 small size, and dark-coloured. Those we saw were from the interior 

 of the island, where they are said to thrive well. 



The morning drill of the recruits which was witnessed, was 

 amusing. They were cleanly dressed, but the rattan was freely used 

 by the sergeant, and what seemed characteristic or in keeping with 

 appearances around, the sergeant during the drill ordered one of his 

 men from the ranks, to bring him some fire to light his cigar ! 



No trades were observed, and but one small carpenter's shop. A 



