1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

178

Tlie Vineyards and Wines of Madeira.

and gardens in the outskirts of Funchal,known as the Vigia, and one.of the show-places of Madeira. The villa is commonly in the occupation of some distinguished tenant,the Empress of Austria and the late Lord Brownlow having hoth of them resided there for several years. It was huilt and its grounds were laid out by the late Mr.Kichard Davies, of whose ability and enterprise much is still heard at Ermchal. The heantifuUy- arranged gardens of the Vigia, which extend to the verge ofthe cliff, and overlook the hay and town of Eunchal, abound with splendid specimens of tropical vegetation and rare trees,shrubs, and flowers,imported,regardless of expense,from Europe,hTorth and South America, and Australasia. Water being exceedingly scarce and consequently exception ally valuable in Madeira, crops that require irrigation are rarely cultivated by the peasants. Water is collected from springs and rivulets in the mountains, whence it is conducted along the sides of perpendicular cliffs, flowing sometimes through wooden pipes suspended overhead, and sometimes through channels cut through the solid rock and lying at one's feet. The right to a supply of water is confii-med by title-deeds, which specify the intervals at which the supply shall be given and the length of time it shall continue. At the period of our visit we heard of a full levada, as it is called, comprising a cubicfoot of water,flowing continuously for twelve hours once a fortnight,being valued at d£80 per annum,and,indeed,a quarter ofthis supply was really soldfor one-fourth of the above amotmt. As the water is continuously flowing it happens that many of those entitled to it receive their supply at most unseasonable hours. Ofan evening one constantly sees lights moving about the mountains and hears the levadeiros blowing into a shell, emitting much the same sound as a horn,to notify to small occupiers that their turn for a supply of water has come round. Should they disregard this notice the chances are they will be deprived of their supply. The above refei's exclusively to water for irrigation and ordinary use, drinking water being supphed through a tube ofthe circumference of a quill pen.