CHAPTER XII 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



THOUGH this volume does not profess to be in any 

 sense a guide-book to the Island of Madeira, yet it 

 seems as though even those visitors to the island, 

 who may only wish to study its flora and sylva, 

 will more fully appreciate their wanderings by 

 learning something of its history. 



Very little is known of the early history of 

 Madeira. Though some historians assert that even 

 the early Phoenicians found their way there during 

 some of their adventurous voyages, there seems 

 to be little foundation for such assertions. Others 

 at a later date claim for Madeira the honour of 

 being Pliny's Purpuria, or Purple Land, an honour 

 to which the Canaries also lay claim, though it 

 seems probable that Madeira has more right 

 to the distinction, as Humboldt gave new life to 

 the theory by describing in glowing terms the 

 beauties of its hazy mountains, shrouded in purple 

 and violet clouds. A less romantic reason for the 



