MADEIRA. 
31 
are splendid avenues of massive oaks and magnificent 
plane-trees, forming delightful promenades, with re- 
pose and shade, under the dense foliage of their 
wide-spreading branches. 
The existing conveyances are either horses, ham- 
mocks, sedan-chairs, or sledges drawn by oxen. No 
stranger should miss the diversion of travelling down 
from the Nossa Senhora de Monti, where one has a 
slide down the mountain-side, above 1800 feet, into 
the heart of the town, on small double-seated wooden 
sledges. These curious vehicles are guided in their 
descent with admirable skill by a couple of natives, 
and, notwithstanding the velocity with which they 
rush down the incline, it is very rare that even a 
slight accident is heard of. These sledging parties, 
which are inexpensive, constitute the favourite amuse- 
ment for visitors. 
The dress of the natives is extremely simple, and, 
as the climate is subject to such slight extremes, their 
winter and summer attire is much the same, and 
generally consists of a pair of trousers of some light 
material, a shirt, and linen jacket; shoes are a rare 
exception. As a head-dress they wear a curiously 
shaped small cloth cap, terminating in an erect, 
pointed tail from 5 to 6 inches long. This seems to be 
a remnant of a turbaned head-covering worn formerly 
by the inhabitants of the African coast, with whom 
the early settlers carried on the slave trade. 
The women, like the men, are not overburdened 
