gement to make an excursion
from Funchal to Kama de Loba, and leaving the former place in a small
boat, were in due time landed at Prior Bay. They had not proceeded
far, before they discovered the cave, and tempted, by its coolness and
its solitary situation, they entered it, when, to their surprise, they
saw a man lying in a remote part of the interior. As he appeared to be
sleeping very soundly, they ventured to look farther in, when they
perceived a great number of cases deposited in an obscure corner; and,
suspecting that they were placed there to elude the vigilance of the
revenue officers, they immediately communicated the fact to some
persons in the Custom-house, in the hope of being rewarded for their
zeal. The Custom-house people, who were probably already aware of the
circumstance, did not appear to be very anxious to interfere, and told
the disappointed informers that they might take a few cases for
themselves, and say nothing more about the matter. Shortly afterwards,
however, the affair reached the ears of the Governor, who immediately
sent a military party to seize upon the illicit deposit, the contents
of which were demonstrated by the potent effects which they had upon
the soldiers.

The stone fruits of Madeira are in general of a very inferior quality,
arising from mere want of attention to their cultivation; for where the
trees have been planted in a favourable situation, and otherwise
attended to, the produce is excellent; but they are generally scattered
about the vineyards, and treated with the utmost carelessness, being
very rarely pruned or dressed. It is supposed that they are permitted to
grow in this irregular way for the purpose of attracting the lizards,
insects, and grubs from the vines, as it was found that they always
preferred the more solid nutriment of the stone fruit, especially the
peach. These grubs are so numerous, that they will scarcely allow a
single apricot or peach to ripen unperforated, consequently, the
planters are obliged to pluck, in a green state, what they would
otherwise desire to see expanding to full maturity.

_Query_.--Why do the insects prefer the peach tree to the vine? Is it
from the resinous quality of the former?

There is also an abundance of apples and pears, but of a bad quality,
occasioned by the same causes. The mulberry, fig, and guava, succeed
better; they are both abundant and good, but there are not any
plantains or bananas. On the higher lands, tha