876 



AFEICAN ISLANDS 



composed of volcanic rocks. It may rather be called an inconvenient road than a good har- 

 bor. Though the city is the seat of the governor, the bishop, and the court of the inquisition, 

 it is far from being elegant or handsome. It is irregularly built ; the streets are narrow, 

 crooked, and ill-paved, and are generally in a very dirty state. The churches and convents 

 are numerous ; but they are not remarkable for beauty or magnificence, though some, and 

 more particularly the cathedral, are richly decorated. The population of the town is about 

 20,000 ; and of the whole island, 98,800. This island is held by the Portuguese, and pro- 

 duces wine and fruit in great abundance. It is less fruitful in corn, from the rocky nature of 

 the soil. Sugar-canes used to thrive in it ; but they are not at present much cultivated. The 

 inhabitants make excellent sweetmeats, and have the art of preserving citrons and oranges, and 

 making marmalade and perfumed pastes, which exceed those of Genoa. The little sugar they 

 make is very fine, and has a fragrant odor. This, indeed, is said to be the first place in the 

 west where that manufacture was set on foot ; whence it was carried to Brazil. 



The climate of Madeira is very hot for a great part of the year, but is so far from being 

 insalubrious, that invalids resort to it from other countries ; and, notwithstanding its heat, it is 

 remarkably free from venomous animals. It has a rainy season, which necessarily varies the 

 temperature. Some years ago, a waterspout, as it was called, or a surcharged cloud, burst 

 over the island, and swelled the rivulets to such an excess, that dreadful inundations ensued. 

 The country, and the environs of the city, were ravaged by the torrents ; houses and farms 

 were washed away, and many lives were lost. 



The natives of Madeira are generally of a middle stature, and have dark or swarthy com- 

 olexions. 



