1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

In the PoH Wine Country.

34

roadside cross tells in exaggerated yet graphic fashion of the dangers of the navigation hereabouts. along our route -we seem to heshut in bya chain of rounded hills,terraced from base to summit,and covered with vines, whilst olive-trees border the different quintas and occupy the deeper hollows. Occasionally a gleaming white casa or little village, perched up the hill-side breaks the wearying monotony. Bands of vintagers,too,singing snatches of song, dot the stony slopes, or trudge with huge baskets of grapes to the neighbouring lagares; bullock-carts go creaking discordantly over the dusty road,and mules with jingling bells halt to water at the wayside fountain,picturesquely shaded by some weeping willow, while their drivers tipple and gossip before the dirty venda, where the hanging bush indicates that vinho verde,aguardente (brandy),and ginebra (gin) are on sale. There is a ferry just below the Quinta da Boa Vista, and,