DESCRIPTION OF MADEIRA 
On the otii, m lat. 37*" ùé' N. long. 13^ 51' . we 
spoke a ,<>chooner from Liverpool, bound to the Coast, out of 
which \ve pressed the mate and one man; these siP.aîï vessels 
i;'jn befere tlie large ships, go up the rivers, and bargain for 
slaves, that the cargoes may be ready against the ships arrive. 
A large piece of wreck passed us tliis dav; which the commodore 
stnt his boat out after. 
On the 7tb, we picked up a pipe of excellent red wine, but 
of what kmd v/e could not determme; it must have been very 
long in the \vatc;r, as it was covered with large barnacles. As the 
-cask was towing op board, some coal-iish followed it, two of 
which we struck. At this time, we saw a bria; and large sliips 
bearing down on us, and about eid»t o'clock at night we cleared 
for action; ihe^ provt^d to be Portuguese, bound to the liavaujiah; 
one a Brazilian. A vRimber of almcores were sporting about, 
End threw themselves to a consideiabie height out of the water. 
On the (1th we saw land, at 10 A. M. beariiig W.N.W, 
pistant six leagues, lat. at noon '30,' N. long 17? 27' 
fV'hich proved to be the Deserters. 
MADEIRA. 
Saturday, October the 12th, we anchored in the road 
Madeira, oil" Funchal ; it is an open roadstead, and the land 
lias a most romantic appearance. The town is close to the 
fceach; seems entirely white, and has immense mountains be- 
hind it, in general covered with clouds. The purser, Mr. Gay, 
and myself went out here, and dined with the consul, Mr. Pringle, 
who treated us w ith true English hospitality. The inhabitants 
4eal chiefly in wine ; but grow very little corn, with which they are 
supplied from America. About two years since, a large water- 
spout broke on the top of the mountain over the town : this 
event happened in the night, and, though it continued but a few- 
îïiinutes, destroyed J 000 inhabitants, washing away houses, 
churches, açd whole streets. They are now^ repairing, and laying 
4own sewers, so that, should any thing of the kind again happen, 
the water may be carried off witliout damage. The town 
IS large, but the streets narrow ; the lower floors are all ware- 
houses, and are tar from beiug in a clean condition. We got 
excellent fruit here at very reasonable prices. Most of the shops 
are filled with articles of English growth and manufacture. The 
better sort of people dress like the English, but the costume of 
the country people is rather grotesque, especially of the women. 
A blue conical clotli cap, wiith a small bit of red rag on each side ; 
juider this/a \^'hite linen handkerchief which flow^s oyer their shou!= 
