The Japan expedition. Japan and around the world: An account of three visits to the Japanese empire, with sketches of Madeira, St. Helena, cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, China, and Loo-ChooSpalding, J. W. (J. Willett)
History
The Japan expedition. Japan and around the world: An account of three visits to the Japanese empire, with sketches of Madeira, St. Helena, cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, China, and Loo-Choo
Spalding, J. W. (J. Willett)
Japan -- Description and travel; Voyages and travels
And now we have been at Funchal two days, and the third, on which we
are to take our departure for St. Helena, has arrived. In taking leave
of the pleasant isle of vine and bower, the writer regrets that he can
not, for the benefit of those of a more sentimental mood than himself,
follow the example of others, and say something about the Santa Clara
convent, that stands embosomed by deep foliage on the hill, and tell
in touching tones about the fair and unhappy Donna Clementina, who,
besides being admired because Heaven had vouchsafed to her a visage
blonde, when those around were brunette, was also loved for other
qualities, for which _vide_ her devotees—how she “would be a nun,” and
how she “wouldn’t be a nun;” and how some “young Lochinvar,” who they
say came “out of the west,” once wished to do something both romantic
and desperate, and rescue the fair lady from the holy precincts where,
it was represented, she was most unwillingly detained; but, with Mr.
Aminadab Sleek, in the play, “we are really afraid we can’t.”
Good-by, Madeira, whose tropical beauty was so fresh to me, and the
picture of whose loveliness will be ever in mind.
“Long, long be my heart with such memories filled.”
CHAPTER II.
On the afternoon of the 15th of December, all hands being on board,
with coal dust, and wine for distinguished functionaries in the U. S.
on our decks, an orange and banana smell over the ship, and six little
Madeira bullocks, who, upon being hoisted in by the horns, no sooner
reached the decks, than they indulged in a series of cavortings, to the
no small amusement of the old shell-back denizens of the forecastle,
we lifted anchor, and steamed away from Funchal, to the south. At
nightfall Madeira’s lines of green, and basalt, and red soil, were lost
to view.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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