Changuu island also known as prison island lies about 30 min by boat from stone town the island was formerly owned by an arab and saw use for confinement of refractory slaves but no prisoners were ever housed here instead the island became a quarantine station for yellow fever epidemics it was bought by general lloyd mathews and the jail goal which still stands was built in 1893 and hence the name prison island in 1919 the british governor of seychelles sent a gift in form of four aldabra