in the Portuguefe language, have, it is faid, given occafion
to name the ifland Fayal. The profpeCt from thefe
eminences was very delightful, the town and road lying as
it were under our feet, and the ifland of Pico oppofite, at the
diftance of two or three leagues. A number of canary-
birds, blackbirds, and other fong-bjrds were heard on all
fides ; and their harmony was the more enchanting, as it
put us in mind of thofe European fcenes from which we
had fo long been abfent. The whole country was filled
with a variety of birds, among which we particularly noticed
prodigious numbers of common quails, fome American
woodcocks, and a fmall fpecies of hawks, from
whence this group of iflands was named Açores, that being
the Portuguefe name of a hawk. The prodigious heat of
the day obliged us to return to the town about noon, and
to take fhelter in the lofty cool rooms of the conful’s
houfe. I was however too much pleafed with the appearance
of the country to pafs the whole afternoon in town,
and therefore accompanied Mr. Wales, Mr. Patton, Mr.
Hodges, and Mr. Gilbert on another excurfion. We paflfed
by the Capuchin monaftery o f St. Antonio, which is fituated
on the hill ; and being particularly defirous of feeing a rivulet,
which would naturally embellifh the landfcape where
it flowed, we engaged two lively boys to become our conductors.
We now croflèd fome romantic hills and groves,
where Mr. Hodges took feveral fkctches, and foon opened a
fine
fine rich plain, laid out in corn-fields and paftures, in the
midft of which lay the village of Nofla Senhora de la Luz,
furrounded by groves of afpen and beech. When we had
reached this place we feparated, and Mr. Patton and Mr.
Hodges only continued to walk to the rivulet with me.
We were fomewhat difappointed, when we faw a very deep
and broad bed of a torrent almoft entirely dry, except in one
part, where an inconfiderable brook appeared to wind its
way among the rocks and ftones. However, we were prevailed
upon by our conductors to go down into this hollow,
where we foon found a great number of young girls
aflembled about the head of the fpring, employed in drawing
water. Among them was one who, by her fair complexion
and drefs, appeared to be of higher rank than the
reft ; notwithftanding this, £he had no manner of advantage
over her companions, but like them filled her pails with
water from the fountain. We could not help being pleafed
to find the remains of patriarchal fimplicity among a civilized
people, where the fuperiority of rank is commonly marked
by prkle and indolence. From hence we walked along the
bed of the river, which we were told is filled to the top in
winter, when heavy rains ufually happen in this ifland.
The people told us they expeCted a fliower, and had, for
that reafon, laid great quantities of flax in bundles into
the dry bed of the torrent, in order to be foaked. This
flax appeared to be long, and of a good quality, and is manufactured
*775’ July.