BOTTOM OF THE CURRAL.

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The Torrinhas are much more happy in their summits-they rise into peaks of a peculiarly jagged outline, which renders them always distinguishable. To the south stands Sidrao, guarding the approach of the branch ravine, the head of which we reached in our memorable adventure of the 21st of January.

As we approached the bottom, the scene assumed a different character; the lower slopes of the mountains have a green, woodland aspect; the surface of the bottom itself is very varied, and broken, here and there, by masses of rock that have evidently been sundered by time or tempest from the heights above; the whole, too, is scattered with magnificent trees; and the intermingling plantations of vines and yams, with orchards of peach and cherry trees, give to it a rich and smiling countenance, that contrasts well-and yet, from its wildness, not discordantly-with the Alpine cliffs that stand stern and impassable on every side.

We descend to the torrent which we find full and vigorous and exulting in its strength: cross it by a rude foot-bridge, formed of two or three stems of trees. This is a remarkable spot. The home scene is of the most romantic character, and the views of the mountains among the best you have from the bottom of the Curral, particularly

that down to the opening of the valley; looking

up

the sight is always too rigidly obstructed by the cross range of cliffs that form the head. A little way below, the road passes over a rich level tract of soil, considerably above the bed of the torrent, and which is thickly set with vineyards and orchards, with cabins scattered among them. At the lower end of this level stands the church of N. S. do Livramento, with the Padre's house close by *

We spent some hours in sketching and rambling in these wildernesses. The road up the other side is for the most part very good; ascending the steep in regular zigzags, the returns of which gave us frequent opportunities of giving another look to the splendid scene we were leaving. It was a lovely day-at this time not a speck of cloud was to be seen in the heavens-every crag and shrub of the opposite mountains was distinctly discernible, and the successive prominences and hollows of their sides alternated in sunlight and shade with the most vivid effect. Yet there was nothing of glare on the scene, which I take to be one that requires a strong light and bright sky—it would otherwise tend too much to gloom.

Return home by the Curral bridge and St. An

* See "Views in the Madeiras."

RETURN HOME.

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tonio, passing several ravines, not otherwise than fine in themselves, but which did not appear to advantage after what we had left. Reach the city before six.

EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND-PORTELLA MOUNTAINS-VALLEY OF PORTO CRUZ-ASCENT OF THE PENHA D'AGUIA

-FAYAL.

Feb. 18.-An expedition to the North. It was seven o'clock before we could get off; we breakfast at the Pilgrim's house on the St. Antonio da Serra, and about half-past twelve reach the Portella.

Notwithstanding the freshness of my Curral recollections the view from hence struck me as much as ever; B. sat down to take another sketch of it, not being perfectly satisfied with his former attempt. In fact the subject is one of great difficulty, for here also, as in the Curral, a chief source of the effect consists in the great and immediate depth to which you look down. Another principal charm is, the extraordinary richness and variety of the vegetation which clothes the steeps of the mountains on all sides. The myrtle, pomegranate, sweet bay, bilberry, wild olive, with heaths and brooms of every sort, flourish with the utmost luxuriance and profusion. Among the rest I love to distinguish the balm of Gilead, as I think they

PORTELLA MOUNTAINS.

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call it; it overruns all these mountains, and I am never tired of plucking its deliciously aromatic leaf.

While B. was sketching, I undertook a little excursion by the side of a levada or water course that has been conducted along the mountains, forming the eastern segment of the amphitheatre. The surface of the embankment just affords room enough for my horse to tread; after a time, however, I lost the assistance of this little cause-way, and leaving my horse to the burroquero, continued my journey on foot, towards the mountain peaks that form the extremity of the range, and which rise immediately from the shore. I climbed one of the loftiest of these summits; it commanded a sublime view over the waste of ocean on one side and of Alps on the other; but nothing in the whole prospect so struck me as that which lay close below-the effect of the sight plunging down the entire depth as it were of the mountain and through its wooded steeps, to the sea-the waves of which seemed to break under my very feet.

Return to B. We begin our descent to the valley. The road is a very good one, but the steepness of the mountain renders necessary a zig-zag formation, which gives us full leisure to enjoy the scene. It increases in interest as we get down; the lower steeps and slopes