The,Macabre,Past,the,Brazen,He travel,insurance The Macabre Past of the Brazen Head in Madeira

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Traditionally, the Brazen Headwas a mystical head-like device cast in bronze or brass that couldanswer, or enable it's owner to answer, any question no matter howdifficult or obscure. Perhaps that is why, some 250 years ago, thePonta do Garajau headland was know to many British ex-patriots inMadeira as the Brazen Head. For, prior to 1770, those British residentswere faced with a very unsavoury dilemma and the Brazen Head offered arather dark solution.The British have had a long association with the economicdevelopment of Madeira. In particular, during the 18th and 19thcenturies, many British ex-patriots settled in Madeira and set aboutmaking their fortunes. Others, less fortunate, flocked to the island inan effort to alleviate their symptoms of consumption. It was longthought that the pure and temperate climate of the archipelago wasbeneficial for tuberculosis suffers.British heritage can be clearly identified all over the present day island.Thefamous Reid's Palace Hotel, Blandy's Wine and the embroidery industryare all examples of current Madeiran businesses that have a historicalBritish connection.Walk around Funchal, the island's capital,and you will come across place names, monuments and establishments thatare clearly linked to former British residents and the English language.Furtherafield, the many Quintas (the local name for traditional manor houses)that punctuate the landscape have their origins deeply rooted in theex-patriot community. Indeed, the profusion of formal, large, walledgardens and the extent of non-indigenous plant species that abound allbear the hallmarks of affluent English and Scottish forebears.Nowadays,the British have lost their once powerful grip when it comes tocontrolling local companies. However, visitors from Britain stillaccount for a major portion of Madeira's income. Indeed,whilst the chill of winter blows back home, British holidaymakersescape in droves to this ever green, ever warm island paradise.The Brits truely keep the local tourism industry afloat whilst itawaits the summer influx of holidaymakers from Spain and mainlandPortugal.Tourism brings us to the Ponta do Garajau headland.For, this is one tourist destination that is surely due to grow inpopularity.Madeira is an island of rugged terrain, magnificent views and wonderful backdrops. The Ponta do Garajau headland encompasses the full gambit of everything Madeira has to offer.So much so that the area was declared a nature reserve in 1982.Subsequently, in 1986, a marine conservation area was created off thePonta do Garajau coastline to a depth of 50 metres.However, inan island brimmed full of stunning landscapes, the authorities realisedthat something extra was needed. The region needed to becomeeconomically viable in order to preserve its protected status. Thus, inrecent years, much development has taken place.Of course, almost mandatory in today's automobile culture, parking facilities have been introduced. A nearby cable car is newly installed and will ferry tourist down to the refurbished beach area. Newstone paving leads to a freshly engineered dirt track that guidestourists to the headland's furthest extent. Here, you can wonder at themagnificent coastal panorama that stretches out before your eyes. Meanwhile, beneath the waves, a steady flow of scuba divers experience the untouched habitat of the marine conservation area.The local regional government is on-going in passing legislation that will enhance and preserve the immediate vicinity.The aim is obvious to encourage more tourists to visit.This spit of land was commonly referred to as the Brazen Head by the British community on Madeira. But, in times past, this was a place that most people wished to avoid - and it was a journey of which many only made one way.Priorto the 1770's, local Madeiran law forbid any person not of the RomanCatholic faith to be buried on the island. This edict hit the Britishcommunity in particular. Not only were there many British familiesliving on Madeira, but most were of the Protestant persuasion. AsMadeira is a solitary island, situated in the mid Atlantic, hundreds ofmiles from mainland Europe, transporting the deceased to a moreobliging jurisdiction was not an option.For the relatives of the newly deceased, a haunting problem of disposing of the mortal remains remained.The Brazen Head - with its mystical association of giving answers toobtuse problems - provided to be the unfortunate solution.Because of its geological properties - a narrow headland, with sheer drops into relatively deep waters - the journey along the Brazen Headland was the ultimate one that many deceased British took on Madeira. Thecorpses were transported to the furthest extent of the slither of landthat protruded into the Atlantic and, from there, thrown to the waterygrave waiting below. The more prosperous families could organiseor hire a small rowing boat to give their loved ones a more serenedeparture, but the end result was still the same. The corpses wereweighted and given up to the ocean, sinking to the sea bed; futuregenerations being robbed of a permanent grave to which pay theirrespects.It is a regretful episode in history that thankfullycame to an end with the official granting of a British cemetery in the1770's. The less insularBritish, not only employed the cemetery grounds for their own kith andkin, but also provided plots for other nationalities.Today,one of the main attractions at the Ponta do Garajau is the large statueof Christ the Redeemer which gazes out over the expanse of the AtlanticOcean. It is identical in form to the Statue of Christ that stands,with outstretched arms, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Youmay be forgiven for believing that this statue was erected in responseto the many deceased souls whose mortal remains perished at thislocation. In fact, the statue was inaugurated in 1927 and has nolink with the Brazen Head's macabre past. But, that story, as they say,is for another time.For further details read the Ponta do Garajau Tourist Guide.© All Rights Reserved.  You can freely republish this article provided the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.  You may not publish any extract of this work unless the paragraph with the active links and this copyright notice are included.