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A
History of Pirates in Dominica |
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Source: Lennox Honychurch |
Dominica's history has always been a turbulent one. Sighted and named by Columbus in 1493, he was not to know our indiginous people had travelled up the island chain many hundreds of years before him, naming this rugged island 'Waitukubuli': 'Tall is her body' And just as that rugged height was of reverence to the Caribs, so it was an impediment to the colonical powers in their relentless march across the Caribbean. Though bickered over by the Spanish, French and English crowns from 1500 through to the Treaty of Versailles in 1763, when the British finally gained undisputed control over the island. But throughout this turbulant period in history, the Caribs were here; this archipelago was their home. Sometimes they traded peacefully; sometimes they saw opportunities and took them stripping shipwreaks of treasure and oft times fighting and beating the invaders, whoever they were. Amidst it all one story persists - that of the Carib
Pirate Treasure....
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Did you know: In 1535 Dominica is declared to be a stopping place
for the outward-bound convoys of the Spanish treasure fleets entering
the Caribbean from Europe. The bay at what is now Portsmouth,
"the bay on the northwest shore", with its forests,
hot springs and fresh water was the anchorage. The fleets would
then split into two, one sailing to Cartaghena and the Isthmus
of Panama the other to Mexico. 
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This map of Dominica and neighbouring island of Martinique was published by John Thomson & Co. in 1814.
Source: McMaster University Library, Research Collections, Accession # 7848/9 |
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In present-day Dominica, Caribs have formed a cultural group to maintain their traditions of music, dance and performance. Read More... For more information on Dominica's First People, visitDr. Lennox Honychurch's website. |
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