ARRIVAL AT MADEIRA. 
41 
made steady, though rather slow progress, in this first 
stage of our voyage ; which had all the monotony of fine 
weather. There was nothing seen of interest, except 
now and then a dolphin, a few Alga, Nautili, and the 
occasional phosphorescence of the sea, which was a subject 
of curiosity and admiration to those who had not 
witnessed it before. 
21 st . — Arrived in the evening at Madeira — our first 
stopping place for coals, &c. On rounding the eastern 
part of this lovely island, the admiration of all was kept 
in full excitement as we passed the numerous craggy 
points and opened little valleys and ravines, where every 
available spot is devoted to the production of the wine so 
highly prized in England. 
The dazzling white quintas, convents and churches 
scattered over the base of the mountain, which rises to 
the clouds in sullen grandeur behind this smiling and 
varied scene, formed a powerful contrast with what our 
eyes had recently been familiar with on the shores of 
our own island ; and this was carried to the utmost as 
the town of Funchal burst on our view, rivalling what- 
ever has obtained the meed of celebrity in picturesque 
beauty in any part of the world. 
Nor is the interest diminished on landing, to find a 
clean, well paved, Portuguese town; with suburban 
streets, in many places, shaded from the powerful rays of 
the sun by trellis-work, over which luxuriant vines creep 
and cling, with their pendant fruit-promising branches ; 
while here and there the admixture of orange-trees, 
