Thelattertraitshowshowlittlebettertheyarethanthedonkeystheyeatandsleepwith。Theonlywell—dressedPortugueseinthecamparethehalfadozenwell—to—dofamilies，theJesuitpriests，andthesoldiersofthelittlegarrison。Thewagesofalaboreraretwentytotwenty—fourcentsaday，andthoseofagoodmechanicabouttwiceasmuch。Theycountitinreisatathousandtothedollar，andthismakesthemrichandcontented。
Finegrapesusedtogrowintheislands，andanexcellentwinewasmadeandexported。Butadiseasekilledallthevinesfifteenyearsago，andsincethattimenowinehasbeenmade。Theislandsbeingwhollyofvolcanicorigin，thesoilisnecessarilyveryrich。Nearlyeveryfootofgroundisundercultivation，andtwoorthreecropsayearofeacharticleareproduced，butnothingisexportedsaveafeworanges——chieflytoEngland。
Nobodycomeshere，andnobodygoesaway。NewsisathingunknowninFayal。
Athirstforitisapassionequallyunknown。APortugueseofaverageintelligenceinquiredifourcivilwarwasover。Because，hesaid，somebodyhadtoldhimitwas——oratleastitraninhismindthatsomebodyhadtoldhimsomethinglikethat！AndwhenapassengergaveanofficerofthegarrisoncopiesoftheTribune，theHerald，andTimes，hewassurprisedtofindlaternewsinthemfromLisbonthanhehadjustreceivedbythelittlemonthlysteamer。Hewastoldthatitcamebycable。Hesaidheknewtheyhadtriedtolayacabletenyearsago，butithadbeeninhismindsomehowthattheyhadn\'tsucceeded！
ItisincommunitieslikethisthatJesuithumbuggeryflourishes。WevisitedaJesuitcathedralnearlytwohundredyearsoldandfoundinitapieceoftheveritablecrossuponwhichourSaviourwascrucified。Itwaspolishedandhard，andinasexcellentastateofpreservationasifthedreadtragedyonCalvaryhadoccurredyesterdayinsteadofeighteencenturiesago。Buttheseconfidingpeoplebelieveinthatpieceofwoodunhesitatingly。