18 



MADEIRA. 



in good taste ; in addition to which; he speaks 

 English perfectly. 



After dinner we all went to a masquerade 

 bal^ given by the consul. The gardens were 

 brilliantly lighted with coloured glass lamps, 

 hung in festoons about the shrubs. The music 

 was the worst feature of the evening, being an 

 unskilful band from the Portuguese frigate. 

 But though our ears were disappointed, ample 

 amends were afforded to our eyes, by the sight 

 of the Madeira beauties in their native cos- 

 tume, especially of one to whom a gallant 

 officer in the room had evidently lost his 

 heart. 



There was a native dance performed by a 

 party hired for the purpose. The dancers 

 form a circle, and use handkerchiefs to connect 

 the one with the other. It resembles in its 

 slow movement and gestures the Romaic dance 



