The Roof Of This, As Of All The Other Buildings, Is
Totally Destroyed, Not Only Because Timber Quickly Decays When It
Is Neglected, But Because In An Island Utterly Destitute Of Wood,
It Was Wanted For Use, And Was Consequently The First Plunder Of
Needy Rapacity.
The chancel of the nuns' chapel is covered with an arch of stone,
to which time has done no injury; and a small apartment
communicating with the choir, on the north side, like the chapter-
house in cathedrals, roofed with stone in the same manner, is
likewise entire.
In one of the churches was a marble altar, which the superstition
of the inhabitants has destroyed. Their opinion was, that a
fragment of this stone was a defence against shipwrecks, fire, and
miscarriages. In one corner of the church the bason for holy water
is yet unbroken.
The cemetery of the nunnery was, till very lately, regarded with
such reverence, that only women were buried in it. These reliques
of veneration always produce some mournful pleasure. I could have
forgiven a great injury more easily than the violation of this
imaginary sanctity.
South of the chapel stand the walls of a large room, which was
probably the hall, or refectory of the nunnery. This apartment is
capable of repair. Of the rest of the convent there are only
fragments.
Besides the two principal churches, there are, I think, five
chapels yet standing, and three more remembered. There are also
crosses, of which two bear the names of St. John and St. Matthew.
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