Barbados
Barbados
Due to recent archaeological discoveries , the history of Barbados is currently being rewritten. Recent discoveries unearthed at the site of Port St. Charles,unearthed evidence that points to the settlement of Barbados by the Amerindian Indians to sometime around 1623 B.C.
The island was in turn settled by the Arawak, and the Caribs. The Caribs, being cannibals had the unpopular habit of shooting their captives with poison arrows, eating them ,and washing them down with cassava beer. It has been rumored a whole French settlement suffered this fate.
After the visit of Columbus in 1492, the island was controlled for a short time by the Spanish, eventually falling into the hands of the English in 1625.
Reggie Medford Mahogany Farm
Present day history may be attributed to when the first English ship landed on May 14th 1625. Commanded by Captain John Powell the island was thereby claimed on behalf of King James 1st.
A permanent settlement was established on February 17th 1627 when Captain Powell returned with 80 settlers and 10 slaves. To meet the labour demands, servants were derived from kidnapping, and convicted criminals were shipped to Barbados. Descendants of the white slaves and indentured labour (referred to as Red Legs) still live in Barbados, they live amongst the black population in St. Martin's River and other east coast regions. At one time they lived in caves in this region.
People with good financial backgrounds and social connections with England were allocated land. Within a few years much of the land had been deforested to make way for tobacco and cotton plantations.As a result, Barbados gained prominence in the world scene and an education in Barbados was an often sought after item.
Due to the high demand for labor producing sugar cane both slaves and indentured servants were working the fields.Many descendants of this time still make Barbados their home.
The climate and slow pace of the island did and still does draw many people to it's shores, in the past it was thought the climate was a cure for "the vapors" ,even Major George Washington visited the island with his half brother Lawrence to try to effect a cure for his tuberculosis.
Slavery was abolished in 1834,the freed slaves and indentured servants remain there today , living amongst the population.T the island gained it's independence from Britain in 1966.
Today, the island still remains a tropical paradise , with such attractions as Reggie Medford's Mahogany Farm, Christ Church and Sunbury Plantation House, there are many activities available to keep one occupied for days. .
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