1880 Facts about Port and Madeira by Henry Vizetelly

Contents.

FiLGE^ —Eocda,the so-called Diamond of the Port Wine Conntry—The Quinta renovated and extended bythe Bariio da Boeda—Itis successively Devas tated by the Oidium and the Phylloxei-a—Efforts of the BarSo da Bnoda to arrest the ravages of the latter—The Quintas of Cnrvalhas and Vento- zello—Excursion to the principal Quintas of the Bio Torto—Priests acting as Overseers in many Alto Douro Quintas—Wo meet troops of Donkeys carrying Skins of Wine—Beach a barren Plateau,and sight Sao Joao da Pesqueira—Its antique palntial-looldng edifices, and their hnge escutcheons—We visit the Quinta do Sidrd—Vines 1,000 feet above the level of the Douro—Ascend the craggy height of Sao Salvador do Mundo with little(^apels perched up its side—View from here of the dreaded Cachao da Valleira—The Douro Boatmen bare their heads and pray as they approach the perilous gorge—The Quinta do Vesuvio,the largest of the Douro yinevai-ds-Its Plantations of Oranges, Olives, and Almonds,as well as Mulben-y-trees for Silkworms-Other Quintas in theneighboui-hood—Wende back andare ferned over to Pinhao . . 71 VI.—The Vineyards and Vines of the Alto Dohro. The Plauting of an Upper Douro Vineyard-Its cost—The various Vinevard operations—All the harder work performed by Gallegos, the common Drudges throughout Portugal—Eavages of the Phylloxera in the Alto Douro—Bemediesemployed bythe moreintelligent proprietors—Varieties of Grapes that enter intothe composition of Port Wine—Species of Vines producing the White Ports-The Malvasia or Malmsey and Moscatel yarieties of Grapes—Area of the Douro Vineyards—Their produce of fine and ordinary Wines—Prices of these Wines in loco—Course of the Biver Douro-Climate of the Wine region—The proper elevation of a Douro Quinta—Bareness of Spring Frosts-Hail and Thunder storms in the &oDouro—The Soil of the Vineyards,together with Vines, Trees,and Bocks,swept away by Bushing Torrents 8S VII.—The Inhabitants of the Alto Dohbo Wine District. Tempeiamentof the People—Their Sturdiness-^The Marriage Bite dispensed with by the Peasantry—State of Education—Alto Douro Funerals— Gradual dying outof Ancient Superstitions—The Lobis-homeu,or Wehr- —Its Nightly Occupation—The Bruxas,or Witches—Their Midnight Festivals—Antipathy,of the Douro Peasant to Military Service—His Ambition to be a Vineyard Proprietor—The Alto Douro Wine-Farmer— His Honesty—His Hasty Temper—The Lawlessness formerly prevailing in the Alto Douro region—An Incident which occurred some few years ago at Tua—A Supperinterrupted bya partyof Armed Men—Courageous Conduct of a Feitor—A Dislocated Wrist and Broken Bibs—A Vain Search and a Lucky Escape from Assassina'ion—Arrival of a Belief Party Death of the Leader of a Marauding Gang—Burial of the Corpse by a Goatherd VTTT—The Eethrn Journey—Eegoa—Baixo Corgo AND Villa Eeal. Along the Banlcs of the Douro to Begoa—Origin of the Capital of the Port Wine District—Earliest Shipments of the Douro Winesto England—The Methuen Treaty—Port Wine in DifBculties-Bise in its Priceand Falling off in its Quality—Formation of the Alto Douro Wine Company—Its Arbitrary Privileges and more Arbitrary Proceedings—Its eventual Abolition—Some Baixo Corgo Quintas—The limitsof the Paiz Vinhateiro' —A party of Homeward-bound Vintagers—Prices of the Lower and