The answer to Fun Quiz 15! I am the island of St. Anne.
Early settlers landing upon her shores and setting up a relief station while the main settlement was established on the island of Mahe.
Named after the saint Anne, meaning "favor" or "grace." of David’s house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. The name Anne is the Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah.
Historians noted the extremely hazardous conditions the settlers met while on Mahe, recalling that there existed immense marshes along the coast from where modern day Victoria is south towards Cascade, and laying within were large salt water variety crocodiles, not to mention sharks, making it extremely hazardous to haphazard exploration.
The name therefore suggests a welcome sanctuary from what was across the bay a short distance away, mortal peril!
Later of course the island was used by the British colonial power, a fueling depot was established, and not to be forgotten, a refitting station for whalers mostly US flagged sailing ships bound back for the east coast of the USA, primarily Boston, Massachusetts, this in the late 19th century.
The island would serve its purpose again during World War II, and still later house students for the youth service, headquarters for the Marine National Parks, until today where there sits a luxury hotel. The island of course sits just within easy view of Victoria, still rugged, beautiful and still offering that sanctuary to those seeking a different perspective. Gone are the days however, well easily within my childhood recollection, of nipping over in a small boat to take in the sights, picnic on the beach with family and friends and celebrate the day of the saint.
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