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== Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_49384" /> == | |||
<p> (a Portuguese word signifying wood, and given because of the unusual abundance of timber) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the N.W. coast of Africa, in lat. | <p> (a [[Portuguese]] word signifying wood, and given because of the unusual abundance of timber) is an island in the [[North]] [[Atlantic]] Ocean, off the N.W. coast of Africa, in lat. 32° 43' N., long. 17° W., with an area of 345 sq. miles, and a poptulation in 1885 of 123,481, and belongs to Portugal. It constitutes a part of a grounp of islands sometimes called "the [[Northern]] Canaries," which were discovered in 1419. ‘ The coasts of [[Madeira]] are steep and precipitous, rising from 200 to 2000 feet above sea-level, comprising few bays or landing-places, and deeply cut at intervals by narrow gorges, which give to the circumference the appearance of having been crimped. From the shore the land rises quickly to a height of 5000 feet; its highest point, the [[Pico]] Rhuivo, is 6050 feet high. It is of volcanic origin, and slight earthquakes occasionally occur. The lower portions of the island abound in tropical plants, as the date-palm, plantain, sweet potato, [[Indian]] corn, coffee, sugar-cane, pomegranate, and fig. The fruits and grains of [[Europe]] are somewhat cultivated, but the country has until lately been mainly devoted to the cultivation of the vine and sugar-cane. Funchal, with a population of 25,000, is both the capital and port of the island. The climate is remarkable for its constancy. There is only 10° difference between the temperatures of summer and winter, the thermometer in [[Funchal]] showing an average of 74° in summer and of 64° in winter. At the coldest season the temperature is rarely less than 60°, while in summer it seldom rises above 78°; but sometimes a waft of the leste, or east wind, raises it to 90°. The natives of Madeira are of a mixed race, principally of Portuguese, Moorish, and negro blood. "They are meagre, sallow, and short-lived, which is attributed to their want of wholesome food [the poorer classes chiefly subsist on the eddoc-root, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts], a life of drudgery, and a total disregard of cleanliness." </p> <p> The [[Roman]] [[Catholic]] [[Church]] is the established religion of Madeira, and until recently none other was tolerated. [[In]] 1839, Dr. Kalley, a physician, began to disseminate [[Protestant]] doctrines, and ultimately the [[Scotch]] Church took up the work most successfully began by Dr. Kalley. The spirit of persecution, so general in [[Romish]] countries, was not wanting here, and there was great opposition to Protestantism. The first missionary to the island was the Rev. W. Hewitson, who arrived there in 1845, but for a long time the opposition of the government was so severe that he was obliged to confine his labors mainly to Dr. Kalley's converts. [[So]] uncomfortable were natives who chose the Protestant communion, that in 1846 some 800 of them left for [[Trinidad]] and for the [[United]] States. At present the [[Protestants]] have quite a hold on the country. [[Besides]] an [[English]] Church, there are other places of worship, including a [[Presbyterian]] Church in connection with the [[Free]] Church of Scotland. The educational institutions comprise the Portuguese College, and Lancasterian and government schools. [[See]] White, Madeira, its [[Climate]] and Scenery; Schultze, [[Die]] Insel Madeiras (Stuttg. 1864); Chambers's Eyncyclop. s.v.; Newcomb, [[Cyclopaedia]] of Missions, s.v. </p> | ||
== The Nuttall Encyclopedia <ref name="term_76552" /> == | |||
<p> The chief of a group of small volcanic islands with precipitous coasts, in the Atlantic, 400 m. off Morocco; has peaks 6000 ft. high and deep picturesque ravines; the island is a favourite resort for consumptives; the climate is very mild and equable, the rainfall moderate, and the soil fertile; crops of cereals and potatoes are raised; oranges, lemons, grapes, figs, and bananas abound; [[Madeira]] wine is famous, and the chief export; [[Funchal]] is the capital, with an exposed harbour and some good buildings; the islands form a province of Portugal. </p> | |||
==References == | ==References == | ||
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<ref name="term_49384"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/madeira Madeira from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref> | <ref name="term_49384"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/madeira Madeira from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref> | ||
<ref name="term_76552"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/the-nuttall-encyclopedia/madeira Madeira from The Nuttall Encyclopedia]</ref> | |||
</references> | </references> |