| The Bahamas - Long Favoured Isles |
They lie like a string of emeralds in a sea of turquoise.
The 700 islands forming the archipelago of the Bahamas lie just south east of Florida. They were named by the Spaniards "Bajar Mar" meaning shallow sea, which evolved into the current rendition Actually the islands are not lying in a shallow sea, but are the tops of mountains that emerged from the bottom of the Atlantic ocean hundreds of thousands of years ago. The land masses attracted countless numbers of coral creatures which comprise the limestone base of the islands today. The coral in turn attracted fish and marine life, which makes them a superlative destination for divers, snorkelers and fishermen.
The first inhabitants called themselves "Lukku-cairi" meaning island people, which became corrupted to Lucayans. They are believed to have traveled to the islands by boat from South America. The Spaniards landed in the area in 1492, led by Columbus. When the Spaniards failed to find gold they departed, but after establishing gold mines in Hispaniola, they returned to capture Lucayans to work the mines and the pearl beds. Sadly, only 25 years after the Spanish invasion, the local population had been virtually wiped out, due to disease, deportation and other hardships. With slave labour unavailable, the Spaniards left, although Spain continued to rule the island for over a hundred years.
The British laid claim to the Bahamas in the early 1620's. The first group of settlers arrived from Bermuda, calling themselves the Company of Eleutheran Adventurers. They landed on the island of Eleuthera, bestowing this name on it, which in Greek means 'freedom". The English established an agricultural economy.
In the late 1600's and early 1700's the Bahamas, along with many other Caribbean islands, became a playground for notorious pirates and privateers. While pirates were outlaws, privateers were authorized by the British crown to prey upon enemy ships. The Bahamas, with their numerous coves and deserted islands and keys, were an ideal hiding place. Notorious buccaneers such as Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Anne Bonney and hundreds of others, terrorized all who sailed the high seas, plundering and pillaging with abandon. They lived a life of merriment and debauchery in the Caribbean ports of Nassau, Port Royal and Charlotte Amalie. Finally in 1718 King George I sent Captain Woods Rogers, a former buccaneer himself, to put an end to the pirates' reign. He hanged or shipped off to England many of the blaggards, and was proclaimed Governor of the new British Crown Colony of the Bahamas.
After the American Revolution many loyalists moved to the Bahamas and established a cotton industry, based on slave labour. During the American Civil War, many Bahamians gained wealth smuggling goods between Nassau and Charleston In the prohibition times, islanders got rich in the rum running trade. Between these periods of ill found prosperity, the islands .anguished through hard times, with the inhabitants making do on a bare bones existence.
In the 1940's the Bahamas discovered an industry that would continue to bring them prosperity for many years: tourism. The climate and low taxes lured many wealthy visitors and expatriates. When Cuba closed its doors to Americans in the 1950's, the Bahamas forged ahead as a top tourist destination. In 1973 the colony became an independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations, but retained the Queen as head of state.
Today the Bahamas has a population of approximately 310,000. With its wonderful climate, tax incentives and miles of unspoiled beaches, the Bahamas continues to be a favoured destination for vacationers, retirees, and investors.
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QUICK OVERVIEW
Location: 60 miles southeast of Florida.
Geological Type: Limestone coral.
Language: English
Currency: Bahamian dollar
Government: Independent member of the British Commonwealth
Area: 5,358 square miles, the 700 islands of the Bahamas archipelago stretch approximately 500 miles
Population: 307,000
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