The Shenandoah

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... A FTER circumnavigating the globe, I have no hesitation in saying that Funchal is one of the most beautiful and salubrious places it was ever my good fortune to visit, although my opportunities for observation were limited to spy-glass explorations, as we dared not leave the vessel for fear of awakening suspicion as to our true character. The city has several buildings of considerable architectural pretensions. One in particular, of which we had a fine view from the harbor, is known as Mount Church, and occupies the summit of a bold bluff several thousand feet above the level of the sea, from which its two tall, white towers stand out in bold relief against this almost cloudless sky The church is reached by a road that zigzags up the bluff a distance of nearly four miles, -- a by no means easy pedestrian excursion, and is generally performed on horseback, but the return trip to town is usually made upon sleds, at the invigorating rate of some twenty miles an hour. To a native of the Northern States this would be refreshingly suggestive of the boyish pastime of coasting; and some idea of the steepness of the declivity may be gathered by the rate of speed at which, as I have stated, the Madeira sleds glide down the rocky pathway, which is paved with smooth, round stone. 2* (17) Among the other public edifices, I may mention the Blind Asylum, where some exquisite artificial flowers are manufactured from feathers, by the young girls, its inmates, and also baskets of every shape and description, pretty ornamental things in their way, which are disposed of to the ships visiting the port, for the benefit of the Institution. The fortress commanding the harbor has been hewn out of the natural rock, and is a most formidable structure, a sort of pocket edition of...