The Republican journal., 1895-12-12
san Miguel,

tADA.
Gal correspondence Of The Journal.
posrA DEL GAnA, sAN MierhL, oct.
tn After the picturesque beauty OF
r,orf. ala Fayal and the impressive
.sadeur of Pico and Terceira. the travel
nafurally looks forward with high eA-
..a,a1ions to this largest and richest
sand Of the archipelago. But he is like
"a he disappointed with the first view
I. san Miguel possesses the same
neral features OF rock bound coasts and
.ssltic cliffs, interior mountains wreath
N clouds. and hills and valleys green
+s rineNards, orchards and gardens
NJ perhaps the scene loses in impress
,,eaess from being So widely spread out.
r HIS isig island is 60 miles long by from
n miles wide Il seems to be scalloped
4gular pattern around the edges, by
soh IT the innnmerabe little eonical
sas se lose 70 the shore. all SO mo-
| ,moAoasN alike that they resemble the
a colossal saw Back Of these
peaks, Ter above tier. until lost in
aHging clouds. - the steamer
he southwest corner 81 the island,
elsada is Suddenly disclosed, the
iiE 81 the Azares ana third in
grF4n5e IL the Kingdom a Portugal.
eAes two miles ~ more along
ad7P gentle siope between the
shaped bay and TIE SHARPLY ser
eaks that outline M
4ae eakwatel which renders this har-
comparatively safe deserves more
r.a ssing mention, ton il has been
81 Years IN process If construction
a as already cost more tlan a million
4dds sterling ana ruined many con
iatA5 b@t is not yet completed. 1t
never viii be finished, OF remain
sor any iength Of time, because it lies
III inc % the severest Atlantic gales
MI work OF man can long withstand
N. Shock 0f the winter surges. The
HtENater, a massive wall of masonry 80
a lgh, il built on the outer lip Of a
nken crater in 10 fathoms Of water; but
seal apparently in mischievons sport,
s68enfly destroys in a few hours the
di Y months, or even VI years The
my gone bravely oil, howevel and
reaches have been repaired as often
pened Inside OF it hundred yes
se ri ali 6raughts and dimensions can
ra at once and bid defiance to the gales
rage outside.
gae aIty Is faced ~ 4 sea-Nall and the
aiug Il within 4 handsome jetty. To
+l4 istt il line Of ancient Notifications,
falling IN decay. Numerous church
wers, tap factory ehimneys, casas faced
tA 0Qert5 tiles, rows above rows Of
NY houses great aid small ali white
-Aea loied rose pink. Skybue,
@Eiape canary yellow beautiful
snS, 1af lying vineyards and orange
eom9iue to impant an ain Of pros
lia uneAampled in oIher parts Of the
peiago.
iallg Is Anchor east Oetere tile steam
sailoanied ~ & tiotilla OF clansy
ats eaeh having cannon ball sunk M
te iHnef extremity ~ balance tAe
propelled h lpatmtn whose con
i tongues llllss Babel In the shade
A7ln into the nearest boat. you quick
t pehind TIE VAN and ars landed 1t
stom House stairs The exannna-
Aen4 modest litfle frunk is short,
apGsing, Il has been said that all
| Ale=bodied men ot San Miguel ale
farmers 81 Custom House officers
ase inclined u believe that ag-
9e mast langaish for lack If labor
At any rate. there appears to be 4
al atiicet for each ana every small
NAL belonging you have brought to
zeres First ali taxable articles are
Dr. aised and that means everything Of
cA You happen to stand possessed
-eh au additional tax is levied ON each
lAiate piece OF baggage. Then 10 per
II The whole tax fof some public
then six per cent. for another
Eefa, through the list Of all that is
eng done on the island or may be doing
ie future. Lastly ander tile head OF
sts there is small charge for the paper
iaa which you have been compelled to
cecar rent for the pen, and fair
FOL the few drops of ink you have
kel III the transaction. thus does
PORTUGAL turn some honest pennies in her
~ declining fortune. The whole
liA4 amounts to little financially and is
M4leted with the utmost dignity and
Dl'vuess; but the spirit Of petty official
ni ii> played under the guise Of govern
tntal red tape disgusts and initiates you,
lh#pS to the extent IF mislaying Of
mret, which does no good whatever.
lae 9id stone Custom House, quaint
ding Of Venetian architecture appears
serve the same useful purpose as the
mbiHed store and post office OF rural
pnHianities III New Englands rendez-
~ fol the swapping Of stories and the
taning ,f information in general Hall
aiale population Of Ponta del Gada
t,e found at any hour Of the day
phliDe among its massive stone col
liAs smoking cigarettes and discussing