Madeira : its climate and scenery : a hand-book for invalid and other visitors / by Robert White.

  • White, Robert
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Madeira : its climate and scenery : a hand-book for invalid and other visitors / by Robert White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    great state, spent their money bravely, built them- selves noble country-houses (now everywhere falling to ruin), and had theii- little courts of dependents. Ovington, who was here in 1689, tells us how mightily the people affected gravity in their garb; Avearing black, he thought, in compliment to the clergy. They could not, however, live without the spado and the dagger, which were even part of the costume of servants waiting at table, who proudly strut with their dishes in their hands, and a basket-hilt to a sword, at least a yard long, even in the midst of summer. Liglit-hearted and witty, the Portuguese delight in lively conversation. They are fond of coining nick-names, and to such an extent is this carried, that the real names of many persons at Funcha] are almost forgotten, their sobriquets alone being in common use. With general science or literature, even the better classes are but slightly acquainted. Their own literature is of small extent; and the Portu- guese rely for any amusement they may seek in reading almost entirely upon translations from the French, the books being usually the fascinating novels of Paul De Kock, Eugene Sue, and their confreres. A private library is a thing unheard of, and there is not a Portuguese bookseller's shop on the island. Some of the shopkeepers, it is true, keep books on their shelves, but they are very few