TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



89 



Great preparations had been made for the recep- 

 tion of the arch-duchess in this beautiful island, 

 which was the first of the Portuguese possessions 

 which Her Imperial Highness was to visit, and the 

 embassy received repeated invitations to spend a 

 few days here. It had, however, been determined 

 to remain here no longer than was necessary to 

 take in a stock of the excellent wine of the island, 

 and as this was done on the day of our arrival, the 

 naturalists had only one day to visit the immediate 

 vicinity of Funchal. We visited the town the 

 same evening. The principal street runs near the 

 sea coast, the smaller side streets, consisting for 

 the most part of old ruinous houses, extend up the 

 sides of the mountain. An open square, in the 

 middle of the town, opposite the church, is planted 

 with rows of exotic trees, with Dracoena draco, 

 Jasminum azoricum, and Datura arborea, the last 

 of which was just then covered with its beautiful 

 large blossoms. The governor of the island, who 

 has also under him the neighbouring Porto Santo, 

 resides in a very spacious and handsome fort, close 

 to the harbour. This fort, as well as the immediate 

 vicinity of the principal church, was splendidly 

 illuminated during the night, when the governor 

 gave a magnificent ball and entertainment in honour 

 of the embassy. The ladies were carried to the 

 palace in palanquins, richly gilded, and in fine 

 veiled nets, fastened to poles ; the bearers were 

 negroes, the great number of whom surprised us 



