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Mrs. P. A. Reardon At Sea

Dear Ma,

We left New York 30th May 1884. the first few days out rather rough and unpleasant. The Constitution still keeps her name up as a fast sailer. Made the passage from New York to Fayal. In 17 days. Fayal is one of the most Western of the Western isles it resembles in appearance at a distance an immense crocadile laying out at full length It is a beautiful island well cultivated. . The western isle are all of them composed of lava the soil on some is very fine being decomposed lava and Pumice it has one peculiar advantage over other soils viz. that it improves with age.

Flores is the farthest west of the Azores it is a very rugged island and has but few inhabitants. There are great many  hot springs in the above mentioned island.  Many of them emitting sulphurous fumes.  the highest point of Flores is about 1200 feet. We passed within about 6 miles of it Orta is the principal town in the island of Fayal and in also the capital of the island.  it contains