Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-14
A Little Girls Impression Of Madeira.

1t was beautiful clear day in October
when had my first view of Madeira. The
high blue mountains, the green shores, anG
the white city of Funchal cleaning in the
distance, looked very lovely to us as We
approached the island. About noon We
anchored at little distance from the city.
and swarms of rowbOats came around the
ship. Some of them were full of half-naked
brown boys, and if we threw pieces of money
into the beautiful blue water, they would
dive down and catch time before they
reached the bottom. Some of the other
boats were full of men, who came on board,
bringing fans, canary birds, parrots, feather
flowers, basket-work, filigree jewelry, and
many other things to sell. We and some
of the passengers got into row-boat, after
a good deal of trouble, because there is al
ways a heavy swell there, so one minute
the boat was very high up, ami the next
very low down. When we had managed
to get in We rowed to the city. There were
great waves dashing up on the shore, and
four or five bare-legged men rushed into
the water, and drew the boat on land just
as a wave came in. What was our sur
prise to see waiting for us, instead Of a
horse and carriage, great sleigh drawn by
bullocks. This is called bullock-car in
English, and a caro- in Portuguese. We
got into one of them, with great deal of
laughter, and drove TO the hotel. The
driver walked by the side of the caro-, and
threw the end of greasy rag first under
one runner and then under the other, to
make it run more easily.
When we arrived at the hotel, We found
II was great white building, with lovely
garden which contained mango, guava,
banana, custard-apple, and many other
trees. Among them was what was called
the moon-tree; 1t was covered with great
white bell like flowers, and was very beau
tiful. There were great many gorgeous
flowers and curious plants that we do not
have in this country. The garden was sur
rounded by a wall eight feet high, and there
were some tish-geraniums which reached
above the top of it. There was little arch
covered with the night blooming cereus,
and that evening when the buds had open
ed, we went cut to see them IN the moon-
light. They were beautiful white blossoms
as large as mans head, and had q faint per-
fume. Next day we took a hammock ride
about the town and surrounding country.
Each hammock was fitted out with mat
tress, pillow, and canopy, and slung on a
long pole carried by two men. We reclin-
ed lazily against the pillows, and enjoyed
the ride very much. The men, when they
went up hill, carried us feet downward, but
once they forgot, and carried us feet up
ward, and as the hill was very steep we felt
as if we were standing on our heads The
houses of Funchal are low, and covered
with white stucco. which looks very neat,
but those of the poor nave only one win
dow without any glass, and are very dark
and dismal inside. The streets are narrow,
and some of them very steep. We often
passed gardens surrounded by high walls,
over which hung lovely Towering vines.
Out in the country there were lantanas,
geraniums, and fuchsias which seemed to
be growing wild, and great cactus plants
everywhere