may not answer the same purpose?. Here the fragments of basalt
left by the torrent, which could sweep them no further, were of
an enormous size. The rocks on each side are of basalt, frequently
columnar, covered with a decomposing red earth, and from
three to 500 feet high. The numerous horizontal projections of
these rocks contained small natural basins, or reservoirs of water,
looking like the baths of the wood nymphs, and there were traces
of waterfalls in all directions. The large vinhaticos, with their
dark shining leaves, were frequent near the bed of the torrent, and
presented immense trunks in a state of decay; whilst the til grew
out of the rocks on each side, its tint varying with age, from a
lively, to a deep green, and mingled with long grass. The ravine
winds beautifully, and every turn seemed to promise us a sight of
the fall, reconciling us to the successive disappointments, by some
additional charm or variety in the scenery: we heard the noise of
the water about half a mile off. A beautiful feathery lichen waved
on the fragments of basalt, which had acquired a silky polish from
the water occasionally flowing over them; and an abundance of
the mentha gratissima delighted the eye with its pretty flower, and
shed its rich fragrance most profusely. The entire depth of the fall
seemed to be about 300 feet, but there is a break after the first 100
feet; the sheets of water are received in a deep natural reservoir,
(2° cooler than the temperature of the shade, which was 54°,) and
scattered a shower of glistening particles during their fall, gradually
dispersing in a silvery mist, which seemed to shed a perpetual
spring over the vegetation around. We sat to contemplate
its beauty on gigantic masses of basalt, which attested the ravages
of the torrent, and struck us with awe, as we raised our eyes to the
heights from which they had fallen. Few winters pass without
some of the unfortunate peasants being crushed or precipitated, as
they fearlessly and gaily carry their burdens of fire-wood along
7 The making of capillaire.
the narrow, rugged margins of these awful precipices. All prospect
was shut out by the steep rocks, which the last winding of the
ravine placed at our backs; every passage appeared blocked up;
there was no distance but in height, and it seemed as if no extraneous
thought were to be admitted, whilst we contemplated the
majesty of nature. There is a lower stratum of the red tufa
nearly horizontal, covered by a considerable depth of basalt; above
is a second stratum of the red tufa, dipping rapidly to the south.
This ravine is inhabited by that beautiful species of owl, the strix
flammea. The tutinegro, so much admired for the melody of its note,
is a species of nightingale, ( curruca, Bechst.) z one third less than
that of Europe. I saw another and more Curious bird, fig. 28, but
I doubt if it is a native of the island. The outline of the beak
most resembles that of the widow-bird, (vidua, Cuv.) but the
commissure is situated like that of the grakle, (gracula, Cuv.)
immediately beneath the nostril, and forms a much deeper angle f
it evidently belongs to the eonirostreg of Cuvier, and I should place
it under the name of goniaphea, between fringilla and eorythm\
I could not but remark the simplicity of the corn-mills whieh are
pretty frequent on the margin of this torrent, every man being
now allowed to grind his own corn, or his neighbour’s, whereas,
before the constitution, it w-as a monoply inherited by a single
noble family, whose agents charged three times the present price.
The two stones are hewn out of the columnar basalt, and from the
vast fa! and body of water (conducted through a wooden shute)
which they can afford, they use but one angle cross bar or wheel,
* See Bowdicir’s introduction to1 the' Ornithology of Cuvier, p. 40. It is of an olive
colour, .with, a black patch; on its head, feeds on guavas, figs, and worms, rests in
trees-, and sings by day, I should name it, c. rnelanocephala,
a The upper mandible closes over the lower, and the middle toe is longer than the
others; the whole bird is black, with the' exception of the head, which is azure«
G. leucocephala. Maf