130 RUGGED COAST OF PICO. ers, and, having once got a footing, had worn arches, and had left pillars and buttresses, upon which flat slabs still remained. These again, with those above them, had been broken into architraves and dark rough pediments, so as to call to mind representations of the ruins of Hindoo temples. Against this wild fantastic shore enormous Atlantic waves were continually breaking, and, until we had become accustomed to them, it really seemed impossible that they should not carry us with them, and dash us to pieces on the rocks. A long undulating wave would come straight towards us, for a quarter of a mile, rising higher and gaining more power as it advanced; and when it seemed that the old fellow must inevitably sweep us along with him, the boat rose, and the wave harmlessly rolled past us against the rocks, with his long snowy beard of spray, which blew backwards, and streamed in the sun's rays, "like a meteor in the troubled air." We rowed into Madelena, that our men might have a meal. It consisted of cold fried fish, such as may be seen in London alleys and at gin-shop doors, bread, and wine. This put them in good spirits; and we started for Horta RETURN TO HORTA. 131 at a quick pace. there are two masses of brown rock standing high out of the sea, very similar in construction to the tuff of the island of Villa Franca, and that at Port Pim. They are of a rich brown colour, and the resort of sea-birds, which, in the evening-hour, were sailing round in circles, settling on the rocks, and again flying off them, with the usual restlessness before going to roost. Our boatmen, who were a willing and lighthearted set of men, and very pleased with any admiration bestowed on their islands, were anxious to persuade us to make a trip round the coast of Pico; but our time was up, it was already pleasant weather for the valley of the Furnas, and we were anxious to get back to the baths. We accordingly bade adieu to Pico and St. George's, and landed late in the evening at Horta, with the intention of starting for St. Michael's on the following day. Half a mile from Madelena |