Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-20
IMAGINARY ISLES.
THE ATLANTIC SUPPOSED TO HAVE
BEEN DOTTED WITH THEM.
This According to Ancient Charts and
Geographies--An Irish Saints Voyage
and His Extraordinary Discoveries.
rror the Dtspatch.l

and the Azores But If we could see tho
chart that Columbus had on his first voy-
age we should find the Atlantic dotted
with islands "a the heavens with stars.
According TO the Arab.ans, Ptolemy placed
"a. 900 in this ocean, though there are only
about dozen that constantly occur on tho
old charts. Several mythical islanos are de-
scribed in the geography of Edrisi (l553-'54l.
and in the charts made as late as 1880
and 1853 some of them still lind place.
Men had become so accustomed 10 their
names that when new lands were dlscoy-
cred in the west the names OF THESE
islands that had so long stood on the maps
were given to the new countries. mus
Brazil was at first the name OF an lmagi-
nary island which was in the fourteenth
century placed among the Azores and AZ
forwards transferred TO the middle OF the
Atlantic west of Ireland. one map, whlch
it as lying west of Northern
France. gives a cut of two ships. with
dragon eating q man. and states that no
one can 90 farther on account or mon
sters. Brazil was sought for BY many
nayipators and found by some. though
usually a mist settled down upon the sea,
preventing the unlucky explorer from
making the harbor.
Another famous mythical island IS 81.
Brandon's. which is said TO have been dis
covered by an Irish monk OF the sixth CEN
fury. It was at first located In the north,
then farther south. II was seen southeast
of the Canaries, and after the discovery OF
the Azores expeditions were sent out TO
look for it--one IN 1921. As late as 1859
one navigator reports that he saw 1t.
ST. BRANDoN's STORIES.
The story of st. Brandon was ono of the
fayorite sea stores If the middle ages. and
IL is found in English, French, and Ger
man. | will relate some of the wonderful
Things that happened to the Irish saint on
his voyage of discovery. st. Brandon.
having heard from another monk Of fair
island which contained the paradise OF
Adam and Eve. started on voyage to
search for it with company OF seventy
five-sOme say twelve-cO companions. Alter
forty DAYS and forty nights they saw
great rock in the ocean, and after sailing
around it for three days they succeeded IN
finding hurbur. where they landed. And
suddenly there came fair hound and felI
down at the feet of st. Brandon and made
him in its manner welcome. And the
hound led them to fair hall where thev
found tables spread with good meat and
DRINK"
The next land they came to was fair
island full of green pasture, where there
were the whitest and the greatest sheep
that ever they saw. for every sheep was as
large as an OK. This was the Island of
Sheep. And they sailed forth and came
soon after to land, but because or little
depth IN some places and IN some places
great rocks, they went upon an island,
weenlng themselves to be safe. and made
thereon fire TO dress their dinner: but
ST. Brandon abode still in the ship. And
when the fire was right hot and the meat
nigh sodden. then this island began 10
move, whereof the monks were afraid and
fed anon to the ship and left their ire and
Their meat behind them, and marvelled
sore at the moving. And st. Brandon com
forted them and said tina. il was great
fish named Jasc5n, which l2bored night
and day to put It's tail IN its mouth, but
for greatness 1t could not"
PARADISE OF BIRDS.
Three days after they arrived at the
Paradise Of Birds. Here by well there
was O tree full of boughs, and on every
bough sat bird, and they sat 50 thick on
the tree that not leaf could be seen, the
number OF them was 80 great and
they sang SO merrliy that 1t was
noise to hear. And then
anon ono Of the birds flew from
the tree TO ST. Brandon, and with flicker
ing OF its wings made full, merry. noise
like a eddie joyfu! melody. Ald then
st. Brandon Commanded the bird to tell
him why they sat so thick on the tree and
sang so merrily. And the bird saldi
we were angels in Heaven. but
when our master, Luclfcr, fell for hlS
HIGH pride we fell for our offences some
hither and some lower, after the nature
of their trespass-and because our trespasS
u tut little. therefore our Lord hath set
Us here, out of all patti, to serve hun on
this tree in the best manner that We can
Then the bird told the saint that IN seven
years he would come to the place he
sought but that in the mean time he
would sail about the sea, coming back at
stated periods to the places that he had
already discovered. spending Palm sun
dav at Sheep Island. Easter Sunday on the
back of the fish Jascon. and Easter M)n-
day in the Paradise of Birds.
ABAD MONKS FATF.
One of the monks had joined the expe-
dhtion IN spite OF the warning Of the SAINT
that evil wonld come TO hin. This ia the
way the story tells Of the end of this adj
yenturouS monk: After having been
driven for many DAYS to the ncrthward by
a powerful south wind, they saw an island,
very dark. and full of stencil and smoke,
aud there they heard great blowing and
blasting Of bellows. and heard great thun-
derings, whereof they were sore afraid
and blessed themselves often. And soon
:nere came one all burning IN fire. and
tared full ghastly ON them. Of whom the
monks were aghast; and nc his depar-
turo he made the horribest cry that
might be heard. Aud soon there came
A great number of friends end as
sailed them with red-hot iron hooks
and hammers in such wise that the sea
seemed 70 be all on fire, but by the will of
God they had no power to hurt them or
the ship. And then they saw hill on
lire and a foul smoke and stencil coming
from thence, ana the fire stood on each
side of the hill like a wall all burning.
Then one of the monks began 10 cry and
weep full sore and say that his end was
come and that he might ABIDE no longer
IN the ship; and anon lie leapt INTO the
sea, and then he cried and roared full
cursing the time he was born.
For now SAID he, ! must 20 10 per-
petual torment And then the saying OF
st. Brandon was verified what he SAID TO
that monk ere he entered the snip. There
fore it is good a man do peuance AMI for
rake sin, for the hour of death Is uncer-
tain"
END OF THE VOYAGE.
In due time. in the seventh wear of their
yanderlugS, they were allowed TO VISIT the
promised paradise. They sailed for many
lays in darkness. Then the mist passed
away, and they saw the fairest country
hat man might see-clear aud bright, %
sight TO behold. All the trees
we're loaded with fruit and the heritage
With flowers. 1t was ALWAYS lay and
neither hot nor cold. and they
Iaw a river which they burst not cross.
Then came n man who welcomed them.
aging, Be so now joyful. for this
5 tue land ye have sought; so
ade your ship with fruit and
lepart hastily. for 70 may no longer abide
acre. Ie shall return to your own CONN.,
.ry and soon after die. And TINS river that
20 see here parteth the world asunder for
)a that side of the water may no man
come that Is in this life" Then ST. Bran
ION and his monks took of the fruit and
ilso great plenty of precious stones and
iailed home into Ireland. where their
brethren received them WITH great boy,
,lying thanks 10 God. who had kept them
Ill these seven years from many perIls and
It last brought them home in safety. 10
whom be glory aud honor. world without
md. Amen"
Strange TO say, 1t was such stories az
hese that fired the Imagination of navi-
,ators and induced Colum bus and others
% tempt the dangers Of the unknown
ocean. The Spanish whether inclted by
he account of the real Paradise or of the
sheep Island, we are not lnformed) sent