The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-12-19
Eurnas, The Azorean ssGarden OF
the Gods.''

W0RLD-FAMED sANIrARIrM A THOU
ANp FEET DOWN IN THE DEPTHS OF A
yNtC ANo. RIDE ACROSS TIE ISLAND
AN MIGUEL. OVER THE MOUNTAIN
0P- AND DOWN INTO THE CRATER IN
r0l- r. WHEELED CARRIAGE.
stHal correspondence Of The Journal
FlBNAs VILLAGE, san MIGUEL, Nov
aa. The special attraction of San
lat island, and the pride and boast Of
peope, is this strange valley, named
Ms tulnas from the numberess hot
Mngs and geysers of mineral water to
Fdel thousands of invalids annually re-
NJ It lies about y miles from ponta
iada. near the eastern end of the
iua and is in reality the floor of vast
siei a thousand feet deep and some
es long by 3 miles wide, surrounded
mecipitous walls which have only one
|arow break, on the seward side.
ink Of riding up TO the top of a volcano
lawn into its depths in four wheeled
Hage! That is precisely what you do
lsiting the Furnas, and to omit the
slng thing in the Azores.
Is necessary to make all arrangements
ne trip on the previous day, and dur
ng the season perhaps several days in
vnce, for though mules and vehicles
e numerous in Ponta del Gada. so are
PEOPLE who want them during the an
n rush to the Furnas. You secure the
aal barouche of patrialchal construc-
NJ with three mules harnessed abreast
Jehu as stupid as only Portuguese
nero can be, the outfit completed by
on three dunkeys, each with its vo-
elous driver. trailing along behind
III The luggage. Probably you hesitate
at Trusting life and limb to the tender
les Of 4 vehicle in such an amazing
I'D VI dilapitlation, wheels rafting,
aRgs broken, bolts loose. harness
hed With bits Of rope: but l assure
iat, barring extraordinary accidents,
Quincy viii be accomplished in safety
oent0rt, aud with SO much of unal-
IVA aali9ht III it that YOU will be fain
Il speat It again and again. A fine,
az macadamized road, built and main
ael nv the government, runs to the
Hlp Al the mountain, to point which
neEalV yelled by clouds from the city
N stone water-courses follow it all
way "a either side, stone bridges
ss selX mountain torrent. and walls of
sHllg are built along the edges Of the
PlceS There is no use trying to
RAbe the scenes en- route, for words
utterly and the cold black and white
Ms and paper can convey no impress
II the beautiful co,oring of the rural
tares with the blue sky and bluer sea
back ground, the mild effulgence of
atmosphere, the shifting clouds and
ifl niists that veil the hills and valleys.
pm the very suburbs of Ponta del Gada
begin to 90 up and up; to the tops of
III ltte hills, anon dashing down at
speed SO close to the sea that you are
A1kled with its spray; then up again
The next peak. mounting always
4er and higher. The road for the first
miles is bordered with handsome resi-
lces and beautiful gardens, cultivated
ds and orange groves, the fruits Of
aiQWn country and all others growing
aanantly shrubs, ferns and flowers
VEwhere. Many of the farmers are
testing. Great heaps of corn lie on tire
'0nd and whole families are squatted
asAde, braiding punches of ears to-
n.y. BY the husks. These the men put
Y dfy on four high poles, put together
s8ah fashion, mounting to the top by
1tfs At frequent intervals along the
VICE stone fountains are set, with
ll1aln streams bubbling through
" where girls fill their red water Jars
w spouts, while others, having
pued up the overflow, are washing
ueS IN the puddle. Soon you are
~uns up the sleeper side of the central
Aedlns, some times along the edges Of
NJ lofty that the roar of ocean bill
Dleaking on boulders at their base
leyou in scarcely audible murmur:
lnes down into deep gorges, and over
@ spanning torrents Of rocky gullies
MA pp again, 1000 feet or more. Sew
IMAGES are passed, all poor and pict-
4qe, where the streets swarm with
uogs, ducks and geese, and women
VI tile floor of their soualid huts
" fhe chickens and naked babies,
% army OF unkempt children run
sohr carriage clamoring for aims.
higher hilltops are covered with
trees, the ground beneath them
saves sawed ready to be made into
n boxes By the way, the oranges
" Miguel are said to be the finest in
'oiia- Among other varieties which
mere to special perfection is that
~ lang1erlna, Ia native Of Moroc-
oel'eve), small, fiat, thin skinned
long Favored. 1 40 not know it's
Z other producing regions,
~ :. has one noticeable popularity.
'ne oranges which do not ripen
ing a season dry up on the trees
'a'n there safe and snug through