The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-03-30

existed In this island paradise were a
few birds. Through colonization Ma
deira and Porto Santo were soon
peOp!ed and today the former has a
density of population nearly three
times that of the mother country,
Portugal. Then began the pouring into
Madeira Of the floral good things Ut
the earth, a procedure which has
made it a wonderland for bOtaniSts. OF
primary economic Importance was the
Introduction Of sugar-cane from Sicily.
Soon a very important sugar industry
had been built up. Grapes were
brought In from Crete, and by the time
of the American Revolution the ia
nous Madeira wine had shouldered
sugar from its place of Importance.
Not a Prosperous People.
In spite of the wonderful climate
and soil of Madeira, it's inhabitants
are not very prosperous, This fact Is
probably chiefly due to the marked
density of the population. TO the lack
OF an adequate educational system,
and to the brake applied to initiative
by some of the governmental and tiS-
cal regulations. Because of the pres
sure of population many of the young
people have emigrated during the past
few decades. ~Illiteracy Is widespread.
The people of Madeira have many
strains in their blood. Italians, Jews,
Moors, negro slaves, and English have
all contributed elements, but the
Portuguese have always been incom-
parably the most important factor,
and the resulting men 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 its tour
list traffic. Fol- more than half a cen
fury the island has been the s%un-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 on the south side of the island and
which has many of the modern facili-
ties which the outside world expects.
Funchals harbor Is only a roadstead,
but II Is never deserted, for the city
lies at an ocean crossroads of the
routes that lead between the Strait OF
Gibraltar and the West indies and
South America. and between South
Africa and England. And 1t had In
pre-war days lines that piled directly
to England, the Canar1es, the Azores
and Portugal.
The precipitous streets OF FunchaI
compelled the use of sledges instead
Of wheeled vehicles I'm the early DAYS.
and these quaint and primitive We
hicles are still in use. The motive pow
er Is usually supplied by oxen and
some Of the sledges are luxuriously
fitted out with elaborate canopies. A
thrill can be gotten from Funchal's
primitive vehicles not surpassed by
that from the racing automobile. for
1t Is customary In descending from
the hills to coast down over the cob
blest0nes on small sleds with creased
runners. One of the regular excur-
sions for tourists In Funchal. even
though they stay in the island but a
few hours, Is a trip to an elevation of
1000 feet above the harbor by a cog
railroad and an exciting slide down.
Walkers climbing the hills sbcut the
city regularly arrange to have .livery
sleds" meet them at certain points on
the heights that they may coast back
to the lower levels.
Funchal's cog railroad gives access
to several level roads which wind
about the faces Of the hills back OF
the city affording excellent views OF
the city and roadstead below. Open
ing upon these and farther up near the
terminus of the railroad are the show
places OF the city. In some of these
villa estates are To be found gardens
Of flowers and shrubs and trees whose
beauty Is probably unsurpassed any.
where In the world