ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



SECTION I. 



THE MADEIRA ISLANDS. 



The Madeiras are a group of islands, consisting of Porto Sancto, 

 the Desertas, mid Madeira. 



PORTO SANCTO, the northernmost, in latitude 33° 5 N. and 

 longitude 16° 1G W., is easily distinguished by two or three high hum- 

 mocks. On the S. W. side is an excellent road, where good water, pro- 

 visions, and refreshments may be had, and where vessels of nearly 5(X) tons 

 have been hove down and repaired. A rocky bank lies to the N. E, of 

 Porto Sancto. 



The DESERT AS are about 12 leagues S. S. W. from Porto Sancto. 

 They extend nearly N. N- W. and S. S. E. ; are about 5 leagues Ln dimen- 

 sion, rather uneven, and not inhabited. 



MADEIRA is about 12 leagues long from E. to W., and about 3 

 broad from N. to S.; very high and mountainous, except the east end, 

 which terminates in a low rugged point. In passing through the channel 

 between Madeira and the Desertas, a ship should keep at considerable 

 distance from both. 



Funchal, the capital, is on the south side, in latitude 32° 37 N., and 

 longitude 16° 52 W., about a mile long, and half a mile broad, containing 

 about two thousand houses, built of stone, with handsome Churches and 

 Monasteries. The appearance of most of the houses is mean, and the 

 streets are narrow, dirty, and badly paved. It is strongly fortified. On 

 the E. end of the beach is a fort, called St. Jago; another, called 

 St Lorenzo, where the Governor resides, is near the W. end of the town; 

 the third, named Peak Castle, is at the N. W. angle of the town, on a hill, 

 about half a mile from the shore ; the fourth stands upon the Loo Rock, 

 about 4<X) yards from the shore, and commands the bay. The town has also 

 a strong wall to the sea, connecting the forts. 



The landing-place is to the N. W. of the Loo llock, and is sometimes 

 dangerous. The entrance to the town is about three-quarters of a mile 

 from thence, through a gate, from which a narrow street leads to a public 



