The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-04
"A Little Girls Impression OF Madeira,
1t was beautiful clear day in October

1t was beautiful clear day In October
when had my first view of Madeira, The
high blue mountains, the green shores, and
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 f-naked
brown boys and if we threw pieces of money
into the beautiful blue water, they would
dive down and catch time before thew
reached the bottom. Some of tho other
boats were full Of men, who came on board,
bringing fans, canary birds, parrots, feather
flowers, baskct-work, tlligree jewelry, and
many other things to sell. We and some
OF the passengers got into row-boat, after
good deal of trouble, because there is al
ways heavy swell there, so one minute
the boat was very high up, and the next
very low down. When we had managed
TO get in we rowcd to the city. There were
great waves dashing up On the shore, and
:our or five barc-leggcd men rushed into
the water, and drew the boat on land lust
as wave came in. What was our sur
prise to sec waiting for us, instead of a
horse and carriage, a great sleigh drawn bv
bullocks. This is called a bullock car in
English, and caro- in Portuguese. We
got into one of them, with a great deal OF
laughter, and drove to the hotel. The
driver walked by the side of the caro-, and
threw the end of Il greasy rag first under
one runner and then under the other, to
make II run more easily.
when we arrived at the hotel, we found
1t was great white uilding, with lovely
garden which contained mango, guava,
banana, custard-apple, and many other
trees. Among them was what was called
the moon-trec; 1t was covered with great
whitc Dell-likc flowers, and was very beau
tilul. mere were great many gorgeous
flowers and curious plants that we do not
have III this country. The garden was sur
rounded by a wall eight feet high, and there
were some fish-geraniums which reached
above the top Of it, There was a little arch
covered with tho night blooming cereus
and that evening, when the buds had open.
ca, we went out to see them IN the mooa-
light. They were beautiful white blossoms
a'largc asa mans head, and ad faint per-
lumc. Next day we took a hammock ride
about the town and surrounding country.
Each hammock was fitted out with mat
trcss, pillow, and canopy, and slung on a
long pole carried by two men. We rcclin-
cd lazily against the pillows, and cnioyed
the lldc 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
rs it we were standing on our heads. The
houses OF Funchal arc low, and covered
with white stucco. which looks very neat,
Dut those OF the poor have only one win
dow without any glass, and are very dark
and dismal inside. The streets are narrow,
ana some OF them very steep. We often
passed gardens surrounded by high walls,
over which hung lovely tloworing vines.
Out in the country there were lantanas.
gcraniums, and fuchsias which seemed to
be growing wild, and great cactus plants
ever, where