The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-04-07

( existed III this island paradise were q
few birds. Through colonization Ma
deira and Porte SantO we're soon
density Of population nearly three
times that of the mother country,
Portugal. Then hogan the pouring into
MADEIRA Of the floral good things Of
he earth, q procedure which has
made ii a wonderland for ~hotaniSts. OF
primary economic Importance was the
Introduction If ~suGHr-cane from Sicily.
Soon n very important sugar, industry
had been huilt UP. Grapes were
brought /" from Crete. and by the time
Of the American Revolution the IA
nous Madeira Wine had s~hOuldered
sugar frou its place If Importance.
Not a Prosperous People.
In spite of the wonderful climate
and soil of Madeira, its Inhabitants
are not very prosperous. This fact is
probably chiefly due TO the marked
density of the population. to the lack
Of al adequate educational system,
and to the brake applied to initiative
by some # the governmental ana fis-
cal regul: lions. Because Of re pres
sure of population mapy of 10 young
people have emigra;ed during the past
few decades. mlteracy is Widespread.
TLc peorle Of Madeira have many
stra.I.~ IL their blood Italians, Jews,
Mo'r>. u"gr, saves, and English have
all c.i.yiouted clements, but the
P~Ortr"4'>c have always been inc0n-
para. he most important factor,
and the resulting meh and women are
%undeniably dark, swarthy sons and
daughters of Portugal. Members of
the upper classes are courtesy itself.
After wine production, Madeira's
most important Industry is It's tour
list traffic. For more than half q cen
fury the island has been the sun-parlOr
of the English, the white officials from
the African colonies. and numerous
Europeans. But to most of the tour
lists Madeira is Funchal, the little city
of $4,000 population which nestles,
cleaning white, in a big amphithea-
ter OF the south side OF the island and
which has many of the modern facili-
ties which the outside world expects. |
harbor is only a roadstead, |
but II is never deserted, for the city
lies ut an ocean crossroads of the
that lead between the Strait Of
Gibraltar and the West Indies and
South America. and between South
and England. And 1t had in
pre-war days lines that piled directly
TO England, the Canaries, the Azores
and Portugal.
The precipitous streets of FunchaI
compelled the use Of Sledges instead
II wheeled vehicles in the early days,
these quaint and primitive We
licles are still I'm use. The motive pow
II is usually supplied by oxen and
of the SledgeS are luxuriously
out with elaborate canOpies. A
brill can be gotten from FunchaPs
vehicles not surpassed by
hat from the racing automobile, for
t Is customary In descending from
he hills to coast down over the cob
,lestOnes on small sleds with CREASED
One of the regular excur-
lions for tourists In Funchal. even
hOugh they stay In the island but a
hours, is a trip to an elevation Of
900 feet above the harbor by a cog
and an exciting slide down.
Walkers climbing the hills about the
ity regularly arrange to have '1ivery
leds' meet them at certain points on
he heights that they may coast back
o the lower levels.
Funchal's cog railroad gives access
0 several level roads which wind
bout the faces Of the hills back Of
city afrording excellent views Of
he city and roadstead below. Open
lg upon these and farther up near the
srminus Of the railroad are the show
Of the city. In some of these
lila estates are TO be found gardens
f flowers and shrubs and trees whose
aauty is probably unsurpassed any
here In the world.