1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

Holo Port Wine is Made.

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frameworkand low solid ii'on-tired wheels of which are of much the same pattern as in the days of the Romans. The powerful oxen have a diflBcult task of it, in restraining the too rapid descent down the feaifully steep and rugged roads with the dead weight behind always impelling them forward. The yoke is fixed to the horns of the oxen instead of to their necks,and is provided with a leather cushion—often set off with a long fringe—to prevent it from chafing their foreheads. "Were the yoke fixed in the usual manner to their necks,the chances are the animals would be throttled while ascending or descending these steep mountain tracks. The wheels and axles of the carts revolve together, screeching loudly. The peasants say this unearthly sound,known as the"childreda,"frightens the wolves, and wiU scare away the devil, which is not unlikely if he has only a moderately sensitive ear. It certainly has one advantage; in the narrow mountain tracks you hear the cart coming a long way off, and are able to look out for a place where it is possible for itto pass vrithout unhorsing you. When the huUock-cart has arrived on the strand the pipe is gently lowered on to the sand,and then rolled up planks laid against the side of the high-prowed flat-bottomed boat which is to receive it on board. If the incline is very steep ropes are had recourse to. These Douro wine-boats are of various sizes,some of them carrying as few as ten and others as many as eighty pipes. The charge for conveying a pipe of wine down to Oporto is ten shilliags, exclusive of the cost of getting it to the boat, and the landing of it at Villa Nova de Gaia. During the voyage the boat has to descend numerous rapids,the approach to which is signalled bythe steersman with shouts of"A rezende!"where upon the oarsmen raise their oars out of the water, and the steersman, standing upon the sternposts and looking ahead to avoid the sunken rocks, firmly grips the tiller, whereon depends the safety of the boat and its cargo. Suddenly the vessel is precipitated down the rapid, when with a single jerk the steersman swings its head round,while a couple of agile men at the prow sound the bottom of the river with their long poles.