themfelves by ftudying in the univerfity of Coimbra, lately
re-eftablifhed in Portugal. There is alfo a dean and chapter
at Madeira, with a bifliop at their head, whofe income
is confiderably greater than the governor’s; it confifts of
one hundred and ten pipes of wine, and of forty muys
of wheat, each containing twenty-four bufhels; which
amounts in common years to three thoufand pounds
fterling. Here are likewife fixty or feventy Francifcan
friars, in four monafteries, one of which is at Funchal.
About three hundred nuns live on the ifland, in four convents,
of the orders of Merer, Sta. Clara, Iiicarnbgao, and
Bom Jefas. Thofe of the laft-mentioned inftitution may
marry whenever they chooffe, and leave their monaftery.
In the year i J 6 8, the inhabitants living in the forty-
three parifihes of Madeira, amounted to 63,913, of whom
there were 31,3-41 males, and 32,572 females. But in
that year 5243 perfoUs died, and no more than 2198
children were born ; fo that the number of the dead exceeded
that of the born by 3045. It is highly probable
that fome epidemical diiteiOper carried off fo difprOpor-
tionate a number in that year, aS the ifland would fhortlybe
entirely depopulated, if the mortality were always equal to
this. Another circumftance concurs to ftrengthen this fup-
pofition, namely, the excellence of the climate. The weather
is in general mild and temperate: In fummer the
heat is very moderate on the higher parts of the ifland,
whither
whither the better fort of people retire for that feafon ; A’:
and in winter the fnow remains there for feveral days,
whilft it is never known to continue above a day or
two in the lower parts. The accuracy of the numbers of
dead and born, may however be entirely depended upon,
as a complete lift extracted from. the parifh books was
procured for us, from the governor’s fecretary.
The' common people of this ifland are of a tawny
colour, and well fhaped^ though they have large feet,
owing perhaps to the efforts they are obliged to make in
climbing the craggy paths of this mountainous country.
Their faces are oblong, their eyes dark; their black hair
naturally falls in ringlets, and begins to crifp in fome
individuals, which may perhaps be owing to intermarriages
with negroes ; in general they are hard featured,
but not difagreeable. Their women are too frequently
ill-favoured, and want the florid complexion, which,
when united to a pleafing affemblage of regular features,
gives our Northern fair ones the fuperiority over all their
fex. They are fmall, have prominent cheek-bones, large
feet, an ungraceful gait, and the colour of the darkeft
brunette. The juft proportions of their body, the fine
form of their hands, and their large, lively eyes, feem
in fome meafure to compenfate for thofe defeCls. The
labouring men in fummer, wear linen trowfers, a coarfe
Ihirt, a large hat, and boots; fome had a Ihort jacket
VeL’ L 0 made