ANNA d'aRFET. 23 



venerable cedar, where they found a temporary shelter, 

 there trusting to the genial climate and enchanting scenery, 

 Machim hoped to succeed in administering consolation to 

 the conscience-stricken Anna, but within a day or two 

 of their arrival another storm arose, more terrible than 

 the last, which drove their unfortunate vessel out to sea. 

 Abandoned to despair, the beautiful Anna D'Arfet could 

 not sustain this blow ; she died in the arms of her lover 

 three days after the disappearance of the vessel, and was 

 buried by Machim under the tree which had afforded them 

 shelter. The spirit of Machim now gave way. He sur- 

 vived his mistress but a short time, and was buried at her 

 side by his companions. With his dying breath he en- 

 treated them to place an inscription upon their graves re- 

 cording the fact, and requesting that, should the spot be 

 ever visited by Christians, they would there erect a church. 

 The survivors having punctually followed the last direc- 

 tions of their friend, embarked again in the boat which 

 had brought them from their vessel, with the intention of 

 returning to England. Borne to the coast of Morocco, 

 they were captured by the Moors and cast into prison. 

 They narrated their story to some fellow captives, amongst 

 whom was the pilot Morales, who, returning from capti- 

 vity, related the story to Zargo, and an expedition was soon 

 after sent out by the Portuguese government to take for- 

 mal possession of the island. 



" The small church now standing near by the cedar tree 

 is said to have been the one erected in compliance with 

 this request. Bowles in his ' Spirit of Discovery,' gives 

 the following poetical version of the inscription, supposed 

 to have been written by Machim on the grave of Anna 

 D'Arfet : 



