604 Mr. masson’s Account of 
fecure from all weather; at prefent it wants cleaning out, 
as the winter’s rain wafhes down great quantities of earth 
into it, which has greatly diminiftied its depth. But 
veflels frequently anchor between this ifland and the 
main. 
Befide thefe towns are feveral fmaller, viz. Alagoa, 
Agoa de Pao, Brelanha, Fanaes de Ajuda, and a number 
of hamlets, called Lugars, or Places. 
About four leagues North-eaft from Villa Franca lies- 
a place called the Furnas, being a round deep valley in 
the middle of the Eaft part of the ifland, furrounded 
with high mountains, which, though fteep, may be eafily 
afcended on horfeback by two roads. The valley is 
about five or fix leagues in circuit, the face of the moun- 
tains, which are very fteep, is intirely covered with beau- 
tiful ever-greens, viz. myrtles, laurels, a large fpecies of 
bilberry, called uva de ferra fa) , See. and numberlefs rivu- 
lets of the pureft water run down their fides. The valley 
below is well cultivated, producing wheat, Indian corn,, 
flax, &c. The fields are planted round with a beautiful 
fort of poplars, which grow into pyramidal forms, and: 
by their carelefs, irregular difpofition, together with the 
multitude of rivulets, which run in all directions through) 
the valley, a number of boiling fountains, throwing up 
(a) Mountain grapes,. 
clouds 
