 The port of Medeira (Click on image to see a larger version) "We arrived and anchored in Funchal roads at 5pm July 1st 1869. This is my fifth time here and again I see and hear the same sights and sounds. I say this because you hear the incessant �heav for a dive sah� in the surrounding boats from morning till night. This is uttered from a number of sallow Portuguese urchins who request that you will eject a small coin into the water for them to dive after; which they seldom fail to catch and, of course, appropriate to themselves. " "Heard the news of the Irish Church bill having passed the Pearl � ". "Found here the Warrior and Black Prince waiting to escort the floating dock to Bermuda �"  The floating dry dock as seen by the author (Click on image to see a larger version) " It is no use for me to expatiate on the beauties of this lovely isle which have been so often described by abler writers than myself. I only intend to offer a few remarks on my experiences and adventures here, on this and previous visits."  Mountain Church, Madeira (Click on image to see a larger version) "The first time I visited this place was in November 62 being then a youngster in the Perseus sloop. I was much struck by the different colours of the houses some being washed green, red, yellow etc, in fact all the colours of the rainbow. Then the ride up the Grand Corral which, I thought then and still think now, is one of the most delightful rides a person could wish for. You go through so many different changes of scenery; one minute you are among groves of orange and lemon trees then suddenly you emerge into a bridle path with a deep and yawning precipice at one side and a mountain towering above you on the other. I cannot wind up without saying something for the poor beasts who carry you up this corral. They are the most intriguing quadrupeds I have ever seen. They not only climb the sides of the mountain like cats with you on their backs but also haul their drivers up as well � that individual holding on by the tail." "The products of the island are, as we all know, an invigorating wine of that name and feather flowers. They are also good hands at making wooden ware similar to that which is manufactured at Tunbridge Wells and known as Tunbridgeware. So much for the land. "  Mode of Conveyance Funchal (Click on image to see a larger version) "The Roads are open to the south and when it blows from that quarter the anchorage is dangerous. When there in the Cadmus in 65 our officers nearly all went to a ball intending to come aboard the following morning. But they were destined to disappointment because it came on to blow suddenly in the night and we had to go to sea without them. Remaining out for three days till the gale subsided we returned to find that a large barque had gone ashore in our absence and was a total wreck. The officers we left behind had fine times, the only drawback to there many amusements were the full dress uniforms they were in. Some were lucky enough to get change of raiment from a Lord Brownlow who was very kind to everyone he met and whose demise, I regret to say, I have seen since in the papers." " So much for Madeira. "
© Copyright Charles Fountain May 2002 ^ back to top ^ |