Volltext Seite (XML)
Aucusr 21, 1885.j THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. 541 for the excursion we had decided to make to Las Furnas on the morrow, and landing at the little wharf, wended my way through the Italian-looking streets. Visiting first the post office, a large room up a bare-looking staircase, I found the place closed, and in charge of an old woman as caretaker, so no letters were to be obtained that night, Nearly all the shops being closed, and as, owing to the darkness, we were able to see nothing of the town, I con cluded my arrangements for carriages as soon as possible, and went on board the Ceylon to sleep. My photographic apparatus being packed in readiness, I went on shore in one of the first boats in the morning (March 28th), and leaving my chittels in charge of a butcher, strolledround the town. One of the first things that strikes the visitor landing at Ponta Delgada is a strange cloak and head dress worn by some of the women. The bonnet or capello is in shape somewhat like an old-fashioned sun bonnet projecting some four inches in front of the face and coming to a rounded wedge-shaped point at the back : its total length is about two feet, and, combined with the long capote or cloak of the same dark blue cloth, it gives its wearer a very strange and weird-like appearance, to be seen at the present time nowhere else in the world ; this costume is supposed to have been introduced by the Belgian colonists who emigrated to St. Michael’s some 300 years ago. A row of four or five women thus curiously attired, stalking grimly and silently along, one behind the other, on the narrow pavement, presented a very curious appearance. A favourite head-covering for men seems to be the carapuca, a zouave shape cap with large projecting peak, a curtain or valance of dark blue cloth falling from the sides and back on to the shoulders. We left Ponta Delgada at half-past ten in the morning for Las Furnas, with its world-famed boiling springs and sulphurous baths, reaching Lis Furnas at sunset. After quite a sumptuous dinner, we strolled out under the bright moonlight, retiring early to rest. In the morning we were greatly surprised anil dis appointed to find the rain descending in torrents, rendering any idea of excursions in the neighbourhood out of the question ; so after a rather early breakfast we started by the New Road on the return journey to Ponta Delgada. The rain drove over us in clouds as we ascended the steep zig zag road out of the crater, and at the summit of the pass it ceased altogether, giving us some delightful peeps of the surrounding country. Soon we came to the beauti ful little Lago das Furnas, nestling between the mountains. On the lake we saw a phenomenon new to all of us viz., a horizontal rainbow ; rising from the surface of the lake was a light cloud of mist, brilliantly illuminated with the prismatic colours, which, impinging against the mountain side, ran for some distance upwards. Passing onwards we ran over a capital road, by the water’s edge, indented with numerous picturesque bays, and dotted with rocky islets, till we reached Villa Franca, a little town pleasantly situated on the sea. Our drivers here halted for the necessary refreshment for themselves ; but quickly resuming their seats, we tore at a break-neck pace to Ponta Delgada, reaching that place about half past two. Our vessel being timed to leave at five o’clock, we had ample leisure to inspect one of the many lovely gardens the wealthier residents of the Azores delight in. Here we found, sheltered by the tall trees from the northern winds, and open to the sunshine of the south, the products of the semi-tropical zone growing in great perfec tion. Stunted palms, with stems of three feet in diameter, fan-like bananas, magnolias, some thirty feet in height; camelia trees thick with crimson and white blossom ; gigantic aloes and cacti; our own familiar orange blossom, and many trees and plants unknown to me. The nursery gardens contained nourishing vines, carefully trained in well-sheltered vineries. Driving down to the quay we found that, owing to the prevalence of a heavy gale from the north-east, the pilot did not deem it advisable to leave till daylight the next morning ; but after a walk to see the pretty Plaza, where the band plays on Sunday afternoon, we went on board. At seven o’clock next morning, March 30th, we heard the anchor being hauled up, and going on deck after break fast the south-eastern cliffs of St. Nicholas soon faded from our sight, and our pleasure trip being practically over, Bradshaws came in requisition, and we were soon actively engaged in discussing the merits and demerits of the different trains from Plymouth, at which port we had decided to call. We were now fairly in what are called, though er roneously, “ the roaring forties,” where a succession of adverse winds and nasty seas made our passage longer than usual; but running into smoother water, off Cape Finis- terre, on Sunday morning early, April 5th, we sighted the coast of Cornwall, and at half-past nine were running into Plymouth Sound, between the Breakwater and lovely Mount Edgcumbe. On our right Staddon heights and Bovisand frowned on us, Batten, with its quaint round tower, the grim Citadel, and busy fishy Sutton Pool. On our left Drake’s Island ; and in the distance the Hamoaze, full of Britain’s wooden walls ; Brunel’s wonderful tubular bridge, and stormy Devil’s Point; while in front of us rose that breezy promenade, the Hoe, bearing on its broad slopes Smeaton’s massive tower and statue of Ply mouth’s benefactor, immortal Drake. Landing again on England’s shore, after our cruise of 12,000 miles, ’mid much handshaking and wishing God speed, we were soon speeding swiftly to our respective destinations, all, let us hope, more sound in mind and body for our voyage in the Ceylon to summer seas. Oorrespondence. Mr. BOTTONES PHOTO-MICROGRAPHS. Sir,—In last week’s number of the News, page 527, Mr. Skertchly’s letter contains the following words “ The field of view depends upon the angular aperture of the objective, and no quarter I have seen has so narrow an angle as to show only part of the foot of this particular slide.” This statement is of such an extraordinary character, and so totally at variance with fact, that a friend and 1 took the trouble last evening to measure the field of view of some of his object-glasses, and I subjoin a note of these measurements in hundredths of an inch. The micrometer used was one by Smith and Beck. The stand was a fine monocular one, by Crouch, having rotating mechanical stage and sub-stage. We used the B eye piece, to enable us the more easily to read the divisions of the micrometer. Diameter of Field in Designation of Angular 100ths of Maker's Name. Object Glass. Aperture. an inch. Zeiss B 2 ... 40° ... 4-7 B 2 ... GO ... 4-8 ... c 4 ... 50 ... 3-15 CC J ... 105 ... 2'3 D 1 ... 75 ... 1-75 DD ... 105 ... 165 Powell and Lealand ... 00 ... 2-G ... 140 ... 2'0 Wray ... 4 ... 130 ... 2-0 i ... GO ... 3-4 » ••• To ... 100 ... 3-15 It will be seen from the above table, that in every instance except the BB, the larger angle glass has a smaller field than the low angle one. These object-glasses are every one of them exceptionally good glasses. The reason why the BB, of 60°, has a larger field than the