TERCEIRA. 
13 
in imagination we were transported back to the year of 
our Lord 1439, where history places the discovery of 
the islands — to that day when first Gonzalo Velho 
Cabral, the Commendador de Almonral and Senhor of 
Cardiga, grasping the Portuguese banner, sprung to 
the shore with the ardent hopes of a discoverer. 
With what wonder and curiosity must he have wan- 
dered with his followers from hill to dale, from dale to 
open plain, half doubting, yet still expecting to meet 
a native race, whom to claim as the subjects of his new 
found empire ; and how must he at last have returned 
to his boats, his delight a little dashed by disappoint- 
ment, but still enchanted with the beauty of his 
uncontested prize, its balmy air and fertile soil 
redolent with perfume, and the sweet sounds of its 
only inhabitants, the feathered songsters. For here no 
beast of prey, no poisoned vermin live ; the venom of 
the snake and the virus of the rabid dog alike become 
inert, under the influence of this benignant clime. 
After we had a little refreshed our wearied frames 
we bethought ourselves of the necessity of again press- 
ing forward, and for hours we continued to pursue 
the same pathless and laborious course, determined 
to find any other route back to Praya rather than 
attempt to retrace our way through the difficulties 
we had encountered. We had become involved in 
dense and intricate woods, with only here and there a 
labyrinthine track leading us on through an undu- 
lating country, apparently interminable, and utterly 
c 
