Land and Sea 



attributes of Dionysus. Very appropriately the 

 large parish dedicated to him here is one of 

 the chief vine-growing districts of the island, 

 and the curious may note " Fine old S. Mar- 

 tinho" in wine-merchants' lists. Neighbouring 

 parishes are dedicated to St. Anthony, who 

 may perhaps assist you to regain lost or stolen 

 property ; and St. Rock, the friend of the sick, 

 and especially the plague-stricken. No doubt 

 his shrine was much sought during the un- 

 happy events of 1906. The expression, "as 

 sound as a roach," is perhaps due to a cor- 

 ruption of the French form of his name. 



Vows to execute unpleasant tasks are not 

 uncommon. In their performance men will 

 carry heavy chains or bars of iron ; women 

 will shuffle on bare knees over sharp stones, 

 and up the steep steps leading to the Mount 

 Church. Votive offerings, such as wax models 

 of injured and ailing limbs, are constantly 

 made. I asked one custodian of a church what 

 became of them. With a twinkle in his eye 

 he explained that the patient either died or 

 recovered ; whichever happened there was no 

 further use for the offering, and the wax made 

 very good candles. If a long drought occurs, 



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