■s 
SPILSBURy's voyage to AFRICA. 
del s; a straight ciotb cloak, blue or brown, edged with red; a 
rclose-bodied jacket, and striped petticoat: they go bare-legged. 
The men likewise wear a cap, and their coat thrown over tlieir 
•shoulders t!)eir waistcoats and drawers ût close ; the latter 
-reaching below the knee. 
The countrymen in general carry a long pole on their shoulders, 
over which is oftentimes thrown their coat. The women, ac- 
cording to the Moorish custom, squat on their hams. On 
Sunday, they bring various productions from the country for sale; 
especially a coarsish brown bread» They are very hospitable 
and inoffensive. A draughtsman whom we met with here, 
ijîformed us, he had travelled over the island, and was always 
well treated : he described the views as the most grand and 
romantic imaginable. Their principal article of cultivation, 
their wines, they bring to the capital, for sale to the 
merchants ; they are the coinmoii Madeira, Malmsey, .an(| 
a species of Burgundy. 
The cathedral is well worth seeing ; it is very richly decorated 
with gold and silver ornaments. In the body of this edijice, 
while 1 was viewing it, the corpse of a female child was brought 
without a coffin, dressed with Howeîs, and its hands clasped 
together : a hole was dug into which tliey laid it in, the earth was 
then thrown over it, and trampled down before its mother, who 
appeared very little concerned. We afterwards learnt, that 
parents rejoice at their children dying so young ; as, having no 
sin, they are sure to go to heaven. There was^, however, ^ ph asing 
melancholy about the mother; or I may call it resignation : her 
attention to keep the flowers in their pkices, the frequent moving 
of the handkerchief from its face, all proved, that nature still held 
her sway, though curbed by superstition. After the ceremony 
Vv'as over, she carefully folded up the handkerchief which covered 
it, and placed it in her bosom. She received our small gift of 
money, thanked us with- the more eloquent language of her eyes, 
and all the company separated. 
We could not avoid remarking the difference between this 
really solemn, though artless funeral, and the more pompous 
ones, whicli we fref|uently observe at home ; it was indeed gratcs» 
fui to the feelings, and there was no one present but participated. 
T'he motiier herself carried the child, and laid it in its last bed. 
1 never saw sucii a Burîsber of ordinary women together,; 
scarcely any of tliem were even tolerable. The women of Funchal 
are brown, and some of them almost beyosd that cast. JMany of 
the country-girls, however, have pretty features. 
A loathsome disease is diffused over this charmingly fertile 
isknd, and seems to hover over it, as a curse. Lepers are so com- 
mon in the .streets, as to be completely disgusting ; the disease 
shews itseii" m ulceis, or white blotches, in various parts of tke 
