Rajão

A musical instrument with five strings, well known to the people of Madeira. The peasants tune it to the following notes: D, G, C, E, A, but the players in Funchal often tune the first three strings up an octave.

Among the good machete-rajão players that have existed in Funchal, the late Diogo Sarsfield, treasurer of the Directorate of Public Works of the District, is mentioned. See the esteemed book 'Tocares e Cantares da Ilha', by Carlos Santos.