The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-10-17

shore, and soon returned with such REPORTS c
the unknown and uninhabited land, tina, Ma
chin, with Anne and few of his friends
landed TO find repose and refreshmept afie
their weary and dangerous voyage. The,
found the same beauty ofscenery climate
and the same ieeming luzuriance of natur,
which for four centuries have charmed all be
holders. The spot where they landed, &whicf
is still commemorated in the name of tie lit
tie village Of Machiu, is one of the loveliest o
the whole island. Enchanted with the scene
they selected spot where an immense tree
overshadowed little opening surround with
laurel, and determined 10 erect such a siqbI
and temporary abode, bower rather than
a cottage. as the climate required, and tor
which the shrubs and trees around them az
torded abundant materials. The spontane-
Gus fruits of The island, and the honey which
| filled The crevices of the rocks, afforded
them the most delicious and grateful food
They remained here three days, busy with
their plans for the future, and determined TO
remain in their new found home until the
whole company had recovered from the ia
tigues ofthe voyage. They had taken MOTH
ing from the vessel for their accommoda-
ton, and had just provided place for such
~ my iOi
residence, when on the night Of the fourth
day storm arose. and the anchorage, which
with all the modern improvements in navi
CATION has never been safe, proved insult
Gent 10 hold :he ship, which was soon driv-
en- away before the WHO'D. On The morning
of the fifth day, the lessening sail was just
visible TO the despairing few who stood upon
the shore, watching with siraining eyes their
To-, = -. II L thn, 10
ted ship never came back. 1t was taken by
the Barbary pirates, and all on board were
sold into slavery.
This last misfortune proved TOO much for
the delicate frame Of Anne. already shatter-
ed by suffering and worn by grief and agita-
ton. She never recovered from the shock,
bet day by day she faded away, till she died
in the arms of him who should have been
her husband They buried her in sylvan
chapel, which, with pious hands, they had E.
recled to commemorate their deliverance
from shipwreck, and over her grave they
placed rude cross OF cedar. In that grave
Machim buried every hope that made life
tolerable, and he did not long survive her
fol whom he had suffered so much, and who
had sacrificed every thing for him. Hislast
request was that he might be buried in the
same grave with his Anne, and he dictated
an epitaph relating their unfortunate history.
and concluding with pious entreary that if
The spet should ever be visited by Christians,
they would erect over their sepulchre
church consecrated 10 the Redeemer.-Ma-
ny years afterwards this request was fulfil
led, and | have stood within the church,
which still occupies the spot, and have seen
the cedar cross which was erected over the
grave Of Anne.
The survivors oflhis il-starred expedition
made their escape in an open boat, and were
thrown on The coast OF Barbary, where they
were taken captives and sent to Morocco.
There they met with their shpmates, who
had experienced the same fate.-They also
met there a Spaniard, named Juan de Nor
ales pilot, who had been taken captive by
the Moors. and with whom they often cons
versed upon their marvellous adventures,
and described in glowing terms the island to
which the tempest had driven them, and from
which the tempest had driven them away
Morales was rnnsomed by the King oil Spain
in whose service he had been engaged; but
on his return was again made prisoner. off
the coast Of Algarre, by Joao Gonsalves Ear
CO, and carried into Lisbon. Zarco was
one of the most eminent navigators of thai
adventurous period, and was under the pat
ronage Of Prince Henry Of Portugal.-He re-
ceived from his captive full account of all
that The companions of Machim had related,
and was seized with the natural desire to Wis
it the unknown land oil such surprising beau
ty. His desire found a ready advocate in
bis princely friend, and John l.. King ofPor-
tugal, fitted out ship, and gave the COM
mand Of it to Zarco, with instructions to pro-
coed on his voyage of discovery.
The discoverer sailed from Argave on the
1st of June, 1419, and soon reached Porto
Santo, an island near Madeira, and landed
Mt the very spot which had been discovered
by Machim, and which appeared to be the
only place where a landing could be effected.
for the whole bank was walled up with the
trunks and branches of immense trees, which
had been uprooted and borne down by the
the mountain torrents. He sent a boat to
the shore under the direction of Rui Paes,
who found every thing precisely as it had
been described. Observing The marks Of
footsteps on the shore, he traced his way to
the little chapel which held the grave of Rob
ert and Anne. There he found the cross OF
cedar, and the inscription which Machim
had dictated. Paes returned TO The ship. and
IN the I'd day of July, l4l9, Zarco landed
and took formal possession of the island in
The name OF his mGs;er, the King Of Porru-
gal. Two priests accompanied him, who per-
formed mass in the chapel and read the bu
rial service over the grave Of the lovers, and
in conformity with the request which they
found inscribed upon the cross. they laid.
with pious solemnity, the corner stone of
church dedicated 10 the Savior. The edi-
fee was subsequently, completed, and
church stands on the spot to this day. Ira
dition says that the immense tree which over
Swallowed the grave furnished the materials
for the whole structure. Zarco was appoints
ed Governor of the island. which he had ad-
ded 10 the dominions of his King. and was
raised TO the rank of nobility. His descend
ants still remain here, and some of the prin-
cipal families trace their descent from him.
A large painting. representing the discovery
or,he island BY Machim, and valuable. am
bound to say, rather as historical record
than work of art, adorns the walls of the
Governors palace. And every man and wo
man in Madeira believes the story, aud SO do