TERCEIRA. 
5 
sun’s rays or the prying eye. At last the entire little 
city lay before us, stretching down to the crescent bay, 
bristled with turretted walls and forts. A high em- 
battled castle stands far above the town, and the spires 
of the cathedral, and gilded roof of the palace, sparkle 
in the sun beneath. On every side the cross-sur- 
mounted convents, the walls, and streets, tower above 
each other in picturesque confusion, while the lofty 
range of hills, which form the background, sweep 
boldly upwards, and gird the city round with a huge 
bulwark, such as Nature alone can rear or destroy.” 
There is little or no protection for shipping in the 
harbour of Angra against the prevailing south-west 
winds, as we found to our annoyance ; for we had 
scarcely completed the necessary preparation for 
bringing the vessel to an anchor, before a stiff breeze 
springing up in that quarter convinced our Captain 
of the expediency of putting out to sea again. The 
word “ helm’s-a-lee” was given a second too late ; the 
ship missed stays, and we found ourselves drifting 
with a strong current upon the rocky and precipi- 
tous foot of Monte Bresil. A kedge anchor was let 
go just in time to save us, and having manned the 
boats, we lost no time in effecting a landing. Our 
eager party hurried up the long flight of steps lead- 
ing from the quay, joyous indeed again to find a 
steady footing. We wandered through the town, 
every sense delighted with the novelty and foreign 
aspect of the place. The closed jalousies, the care- 
b 3 
