In giving a description of these Islands, we shall begin with St Michael, the largest and most po pulous, and the one in which the peculiar physi cal structure of the Azores is exhibited on the greatest scale. St Michael consists generally of a fertile plain, but diversified by an infinite va riety of hills and mountains, all bearing- evident marks of volcanic action. The centre of the Island contains chiefly small conic hills ; but the east and west quarters rise into lofty mountains, with deep valleys and lakes intervening. The face of the coun try is almost everywhere smiling; the plains are co vered with luxuriant crops ; vines and oranges grow on .the hills ; and even the mountains are adorned with myrtles, laurels, and other evergreen shrubs. All appears a paradise; nor could the observer, at first, suspect that this was a spot chosen, as it were, by nature for the display of all her most terrible phe nomena. The form of the mountains, however, soon indicates their history. There are few, which, after being moulded by the volcano, have not been rent by the earthquake. In some cases, the chasm is so complete, that a level path has been formed between the severed members. One of the most remarkable appearance of this kind occurs in the Porto do Ilheo, a small Island about a quarter of a mile from the harbour of Villa Franca. Here a volcanic reek, 2000 feet high, has been completely split, exhibiting a chasm 39 feet wide, from the top to seven feet be low the surface of the -water. It forms thus, for a few small vessels, a harbour, perfectly safe from every vicissitude of the weather.
In the year 1591, there appears to have been a most tremendous earthquake felt all over the Azores, but which shook St Michael for twelve days without intermission. Since that period, there is no record of any such great convulsion, except one in 1757, of which we have no particulars, and it was probably much less formidable ; nor are any of its volcanoes at present in a state of action. Hot springs abound in every part of the Island ; and from almost every ere. vice, vapour is seen issuing. But the most remarkable phenomena are the Caldeiras, or boiling. fountains, which rise chiefly from a valley called the Furnas, near the western extremity of the Island. The water ascends in columns, to the height of about twelve feet, after which it dissolves in vapour, forming clouds of va rious shapes and colours. The heat is such as to boil an egg in two minutes ; though the sulphureous impregnation unfits it for being employed in such purposes. The ground in the immediate vicinity is entirely covered with native sulphur, like hoar frost. At a small distance is a remarkable phenomenon, called the Muddy Crater, whose vertex, of forty-five feet diameter, is on a level with the plain. Its con tents are in a state of violent and continual ebulli tion, accompanied with a sound resembling the waves of a tempestuous ocean. Yet it never rises above its level, unless occasionally to throw to a small distance a spray of the consistence of melted lead. The Furnas abound also in hot springs ;
some of which it is impossible to touch without being scalded. There is almost always, however, a cold spring near to the hot one, so that they can be brought to any temperature that may be de sired. These springs, after being long neglected, have, within the last half century, been greatly re sorted to, and the cures performed in cases of palsy, rheumatism, and similar maladies, are said to be very wonderful.
St Michael is about 50 miles in length, and varies in breadth from 5 to 12 miles. The plains are fer tile in wheat, barley, and Indian corn ; while vines and oranges grow luxuriantly on the aides of the mountains. They are made to spring even from the interstices of the volcanic rocks, which are some times blasted in order that they may receive the plants. Raised in this manner, they are said to be . of superior quality ; but the great expence originally required in such a mode of cultivation, confines it to persons of some capital. The western part of the Island yields hemp, which might be raised to a con siderable extent. There is also a mountain called .Pico defer, which appears to be rich in iron, though no means are at present employed for extracting the ore from it. The exports consist of wine, fruit, and provisions. Foreign intercourse used to be confined rigorously to Lisbon ; but since the emigration of the court, the inhabitants have assumed the privilege of trafficking directly with England, America, and other countries. After defraying the expence of . its local government, it yields L.28,000 of revenue to the mother country.
The principal town in the Island is Ponta del Gada, which contains about 12,000 inhabitants. It is built with tolerable regularity, the streets being straight and broad : the religious edifices are numerous and elegant. They consist of two large convents of the orders of St Francis and St Augustin, four convents for professed nuns, and three recolhimentos for such as are net professed. The harbour receives only small vessels. Those of any magnitude must anchor in an open road, which, though not dangerous, can not be kept during the prevalence of southerly gales. It is, however, the best roadstead in the Island. Ribeira Grande is also a large town on the south coast, containing nearly as many inhabitants as Pon ta del Gads. It has two large convents, and there are several warn springs-situate in its neighbour hood. Villa Franca, also, though nearly destroyed by the earthquake of 1591, is now a considerable city. Alagoa, Agoa de Pao, Porto Fermoza, and a few others, are also of some magnitude. The whole number of inhabitants in the Island is estimated at 80,000 or 90,000. The character of the people ap pears to be hospitable, but indolent and luxurious, and they are entirely under the dominion of the priesthood.