The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-10-19

U. s. STEAM FRreArE Missouri, Auo 81, ls4s.
DEAR sir-rhe Azores Western Islands are a group
oil small islands nine in number, situated between the
paseis oil 80 degrees oil min and SO deg 43 min north
huude, ana between the meridsns OF deg min. and
81 deg and ~ min longitude west from Greenwch.-
or these F.yal Pico st Jorge Grscosa and Terceita
are placed near together in the centre while to the north
guel and Santa Maria.
These islands were without inhabitants until they be-
came known to the Pc tuguese in the fifteenth century
They were taken possession of in the name OF the Crown
OF Portugal IN the middle OF that century and colon
under its auspices partly wi Portuguese and partly
with Femipgs. and have remained in The hands OF ror.
tugal TO the present time having now population OF
about lsooCo souls who are duly represented in the
Cortes 81 LISBON as an ntegs portion OF the
monarchy They have the scene Of i'm his
torical events at different times and at very recent pc
riod, here was organized and prepared military force
which aided in the transfer of Of Porting from
Don Migual to Donna Maria
But tits in scientific point of view that these slsnas
are more especially interesting They all of voc
origin and formation, exhibiting in their confguraton
their surface their component materials pre-
sent condition the signs Of the igneous
ton the obvious effects OF alternate erupons and earth
qusRes being apparent on every side Though there Is
not at the present moment any crater Ia activity yet
lately as the year Soe there les OF violent voca
mic erupons in San Jorge and in 1911 volcanic island
was thrown up and the" sank again close vicinity
oil Ban lguelj and the remarkable hot springs OF San
Miguel are continual mantle station of the volcanic
forces necessarily at work under the surface of the
ground Owing to these considerations the Azores
stitute most ms ructve geological study here tho
geoogst fnds much to observe where even the un.
learned vister may displayed before eyes the stu
pendous agency to which in part owing the external
confguration Of the earth.
have been fortunately enabled by the Missouri he.
rasr nas the chief nar Of IN S n.r Go
examination Of Faya and Pco with Gracosa San Joi
and Tercera in sight besides attaining close
view oil San Migu,l and has occurred that can
not make better Of the results
and inquiries than by laying them before the National Ia
stitute.
At the first distant view of these islands from the seo
the observer is struck with the extreme unevenness of
their general surface, the great elevation of particular
points, and the regular coDica form OF these
vations OF these elevations, the reg uar i'm its
shape and at the time hest the Peak of Pico
which rises altitude of about 1000 feet. in bell
shaped mountain surmounted by small cone, is in
certain of il perfectly regular that on seeing
representation Of it, one would imagine to be tiff
cia structure rather than the work of nature Exam
pies of simple though less high and less beautifully
uar conical elevation be seen, for instance on Fsy
al, T.rceira, and San Miguel
Ibegin with the island Of Pico. This island is oblorg
i'll iorm its broader and north esery end, which
the peak being OF against Faya Inspecting rom that
side find the lowe the island next the sea to
be entirely covered with loose frag of other
volc objections The houses built Of blocks Of
brown Laval the pebbles the bsacb are rounded lava
the high stone walls by which the divided
OF Laval the whey ards which his part island
are cut up into little compartments by low walls OF lava
au in the place of soil there ltle nothing visible to
the eye butthe broken fragments of volcanic Gin
ders aad lava IL seems wonderful how any vegetation
Gao grow In TINS apparently oeoiae reg on composed of
the molten rocks OF the Interior Of the earth heaved
Its surface by old eruptsn there
harder than before and then broken and scattered
about by some convulsiobs OF nature But the
mo -phere is warm and dry and there is under and he
the rocks little SOIL where in such an amos
pierre the vine hourishes luxurianty nd most of the
wine which Is exported from the Acres used In them,
is raised from these volcanic whey ards OF Pico.
Proceeding up the mountain, however, YOU at length
ONE to region where the climate is moiser by reason
of the clouds which gather round the sides the peak
all seasons OF the ear and where Of soil
IS is very simple one First licbens grow in the
moisture on the face and sides of the rocks and stone
As these decay they sord soil enough for mosses ferns
and heaths which again followed by grasses by
borcient shrubs and by trees In this
gon of the m,urtain are found in abundance only
the usual shrubs and trees OF the Azores but
for sheep and cattle from which Faysl derives supplies.
The upper part OF the mountain is a barren mass Of
lava scor and en- rocks; and at the sum
nit is larger and a smaller crater both nesr filled up
with lava but still with their outlines distinctly Defined
and bath in form and in material tesnfyng the OF
the agency by which the island itself raised up
of the depths Of the
This account OF Pco have drawn partly frem personal
inspection and parity irsm the representations OF others
who have ascended to the summit of the peak. myself
however, assembled to the larger and more remarkable
the summit of the island OF Fayal about 900
feet above the and proceed to describe the geoo-
gicai features OF that island.
Near the Shore at extremity OF Pico, off against
Fay al isolated of brown tus the com
pacted muds of some old eruption, but totally unlike in
composition to the neg boring islands, though resem
bling one Of bluffs at the entrance OF the opposite har
Dor Of Orta Fay al And in the DIST OF the channel,
OF about two miles in width which divides the is
lands, with ninety fsthoms OF water, there has been
crater and In the second place, at another point
having obong summit OF about one hundred and TWEEN
by sixty feet extent and rising to within enty
feet OF the surface Of the sea.
The port Of Fey and the best harbor of the Azores
Horta, opposite to Poo As approach this island
rom the west you perceive that Its broken surface
vered with verdsnt fields divided off OF hedge
rows Of green canes, which, as you first discern them
with the glass; give TO the whole OF island the appear
snce of tesselsted or mosaic work of brown
Hat rocks. But you presently distinguish the white
houses scattered along the sides OF he island and the
verdant fields around them; and as you advance you
sight OF the little of Port PIN bile directly
before you and beetlpg above it, is high steep sided
mountain cultivated to its summit and surrounded by
look out. Passing this you come to another insulated
mountain whose cptous sides, being absolutely
pendicuar destitute Of veruIe but whose summit
covered with a vineyard and the conspicuous white
dwelling house OF its proprietor And, sailing on you
the harbor of Hots, beautiful ped
bay, hing along graceful curve to its ermina
ton in another perpendicular mountain while at the bot
of the bay the white buildings of the town.
eved by back ground OF verdsn gardens and hill sides
in the rear, forming one OF ths loveest pictures which
the eye can behold
The mountains, which stand at the exremities Of
the Bay OF Hora, perpetual and visible
ment OF the volcanic structure OF the island OF Fsyal
One Of them il mass OF rough tuis. the other huge
OF volcanic and lava and the steep sides OF
each being continually undermined by the sea-
taon gathers upon their sides to cover and conceal
their composition. When you lard at Horta the pebbles
OF rounded lava the beach the and spark
blocks OF which the quay fortifcston and wal
constructed oil besreak the igneous origin OF
island
The liberal hospitality and interchangeable kindness Of
most estimsbe consul for the Azores, Charles w
Dabney Eq provided Tor the Of imm ediately
ascending 10 the Ca deira asst called
Of Fsysl we accomplish ed the task parity by
horses and asses, and partly foot about eli
hours without any extraordinary fatigue Leaving Mr.
Dabneys autiul Ie.idsnce, with its extensive luxur
ant. and exquisite garden in Horts course lay along
elev sted ridge for number OF miles, amidst richly
cultivated fields OF and groves OF oranges sometimes
separated the road only BY the steep sides OF the
which the road lay, sonetimes by high walls OF
lava stones in each with hedge Of roses
myrtIes bydrangess and other and shru.s over
topping walls Fsyai, 10 IL remembered, "a covered
verdure Vast quantities are OF the evergreen
aya, (Myrea ays) from which the island derives ITS
name Occasional groves of small pines APPEAR; but
there is deficiency Of large trees The houses like
the stone walls cons ructtd OF fragm he~n
blocks OF volcanic rock As ascend led further the
road every where marrow, to be dug cut the
debris NJ winch ITS sides composed houses
and cultivated add began to disappear; veriure con
tinuei but u meath fern md 9th small plant.
only eHOfdmg pssturss. ioi dlcks 81 ske1p. On our