CHAFFARINAS

chaffarinas, or zaitarines, a group of islands belonging to spain off the north coast of morocco, near the algerian frontier, 2-1/2 m. to the north of cape del agna. the largest of these isles, del congreso, is rocky and hilly. it has a watch-house on the coast nearest to morocco. isabella ii., the central island, contains several batteries, barracks and a penal convict settlement. the spanish government has undertaken the construction of breakwaters to unite this island with the neighbouring islet of el rey, with a view to enclose a deep and already sheltered anchorage. this roadstead affords a safe refuge for many large vessels. the chaffarinas, which are the _tres insulae_ of the romans and the _zafran_ of the arabs, were occupied by spain in 1848. the spanish occupation anticipated by a few days a french expedition sent from oran to annex the islands to algeria. the population of the islands is under 1000.