I77z.
July.
Friday 31.
A u g us t .
Saturday 1.
Our excurfions began the next morning, and were continued
on the following day. At five o’clock in the
morning we went upwards along the courfe of a ftream,
to the interior hilly part of the country. About one
o’clock in the afternoon we came to a chefnut grove, fome-
what below the higheft fummit of the ifland, having
walked about fix miles from Mr. I.oughnan’s houfe. The
air was here remarkably cooler than below, and a fine
breeze contributed to its temperature. We now engaged
a negro to become our conductor, and after a walk of at
leaft an hour and a half, we returned to our hofpitable-
manfion.
The next day we prepared for our departure. It was-
with regret that I left this delightful fpot, and fuch-
generous friends, who know how to enjoy the unfpeak-
able pleafure of communicating happinefs to their fellow-
citizens of the world. My heart ftill preferves thofe fen-
timents of gratitude and efteera, which made me loth to*
part from hence, and to refign myfelf to the common
fate of travellers. I was however, pleafed to find Britifh-
hofpitality exifiing abroad, which Smollet could no longer
trace in England *.
Before I leave this. ifland, I fhall offer fueh remarks
as I had an opportunity of colie&ing during my flay;
and I am induced to believe they will prove acceptable,
* Vide Humphry Clinker, vol. I , page z o i.
as they were communicated by fenfible Englifhmen, who Av” «st.
had been inhabitants of Madeira for many years, and
are therefore of the bell authority. I am aware indeed,
that an account of Madeira may by fome be looked upon
as a fuperfluous work ; but if, upon a candid perufal,
it is found to contain fuch obfervations as have not
yet appeared in the numerous journals of navigators,
I hope I Ihall not need a farther apology. It is very
natural to overlook that which is near home, and as-
it were within our reach, efpecially when the mind looks
forward, on difcoveries which it reckons more important,
in proportion as they are more remote.
The ifland of Madeira is about ; 5 Englilh miles long,
and ten miles broad, and was firll difcovered on thé ad
o 1 July, in the year r 4.1 ^, by Joao '■ Gonzales Zarcoy there
being no hiflorical foundation for the fabulous report
of its difcovery by one Macbm an Englifhman. It is divided
into two capitdnias, named Funchal and Maxico, from
the towns of thofe names. The former contains two judicatures,
viz. Funchal and Calhetta, the latter being a town
with the title of a county, belonging to the family of Caftello
Melhor. The fécond capitania likewife comprehends two
judicatures, viz. Maxico (read Mafftico) and San Ficente.
Funchal is the only cidade or city in this ifland, which
has alfo feven villas or towns ; of which there are four,
Calhetta, Camara de Lobos, Ribiera braba, and Ponta de Sol in the