hich the
Azores, and St. Michael's among the number, particularly excel,
is the extreme salubrity of the climate. Lying in nearly the
same degree of latitude with Lisbon, the intense heat which
oppresses in that city is here alleviated by refreshing
sea-breezes; by which means, though I believe there is no
occasion at any season to complain of cold, it is only in the
very height of the dog-days, if then, that a person, not actually
engaged in violent exercise, is justified in complaining of
sultriness.

The trade of St. Michael's, as far as I could learn, is confined
exclusively to fruit: the fig and the orange are the staple
commodities; and being both very abundant, they are, of course,
proportionably cheap. Into the praise of a St. Michael's orange
it is unnecessary for me to enter, because it is generally
allowed to be the best with which the English market is supplied;
but of the excellence of the St. Michael's fig, I am not sure
that my countrymen in general are so much aware. It might be,
that not having seen a fig for a considerable lapse of time, my
appetite was peculiarly sharpened towards its good qualities, but
it struck me that I never before tasted any so highly flavoured
or so delicate. Besides these, they sell to vessels putting in,
as we did, for water, some of the wine made in this and the
neighbouring islands; but the quantity thus disposed of must be
too inconsiderable to entitle it to be classed among the articles
of merchandise.

I find, however, that I am entering upon subjects in which I am
but little versed, and digressing from my narrative. Let me
return, then, to self, that beloved idol of all travellers, and
state that, after we had ridden about six miles, the road, which
had hitherto conducted us along a narrow glen, where the vision
was intercepted on both sides, now carried us to the summit of a
lofty mountain, from whence we enjoyed the satisfaction of an
extensive prospect, both of the sea and of the interior. Looking
towards the former, we beheld our own fleet bearing down
majestically upon Ponto del Gada, and fast approaching the
anchorage. Turning our eyes inland again, we were delighted with
a view of mountain and valley, rock and culture, wood and
pasturage, intermingled in the most exquisite degree of
irregularity; but what principally attracted our attention was a
thick dark smoke rising slowly from the summit of a high hill
that bounded the prospect. Our curiosity b