Barbadoes

HISTORY

Barbados is one of the eastern most Caribbean islands, found at 13.4n, 54.4w. The island that is less than one million years old, the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates created it, along with a volcanic eruption. Later coral formed, accumulating to about 300ft. It is geologically unique. It is. Two land masses that merged over the years.

The fist people were the Amerindians who arrived there from Venezuela. They came with families and villages, adventurers, descendants of the first people who traveled across the Alaska land bridge, down trough Canada and the Americas to the south. They made their new home in Barbados along the coast, leaving behind hardly a trace, only a hint of evidence for the archeologist to date to discover or dream about. Fragments of tools made of shell, utensils, refuse, and burial places convey but a mystery of their time.

The Amerindians or the Arawaks were short, olive skinned people who bound their foreheads during infancy to slope it into a point. They considered this along with black and white body painting to be very attractive. Arawaks were very agricultural people and grew cotton, cassava, corn, peanuts, guavas, and papaws. They wove and used the cotton for armbands and hammocks. They would ground and grate cassava and make it Into a cassareep, which is a seasoning used in cooking. They also used harpoons, nets, and hooks, to fish for food.

Along with the Arawaks in Barbados so were there the Carib Indians. They were warlike scavengers they have reported to have barbecued their captives and washed them down with cassava beer. The Portuguese

came en route to Brazil. The Spanish took over the Island from the Caribs. They imposed slavery on the Caribs. Slavery and the contagious European small pox and tuberculosis ended the Carib's existence. Spain however passed Barbados over in favor of the larger Caribbean island. Once this happened the island was left open for anyone who wanted to colonize it.

The first English ship touched the island on May 14, 1625. On February 17, 1627, Captain Henry Powell landed with a party of eighty settlers and ten slaves to occupy and settle the island. This expedition landed in holetown formerly known as Jamestown. The colonists established a house of assembly in 1639. It was the 3rd ever Parliamentary Democracy in the world. People with good financial backgrounds and social connections with England were allocated land. Within a few years they had deforested much of the land to make way for tobacco and cotton plantations. During the 1630s sugarcane was introduced to the agriculture. The production of sugar, tobacco and cotton was heavily reliant on the indenture of servants. White civilians who wanted to emigrate overseas could do so by signing an agreement to serve a planter in Barbados for 5-7 years. To meet the labor demands, they also derived servants from kidnaping, and they shipped convicted criminals to Barbados. They lived among the black population in st martins' river and other east coast regions. It seemed to be a time when they lived in caves in this region. After they abolished slavery in 1834, many new citizens of Barbados took advantage fo the superb education available on the island. After they had educated these citizens, they wanted something more than working in the cane fields. Some of them gained prominent offices in Barbados. Others worked in common jobs, and still others stayed in the cane fields. The Island gained full independence in 1966. The first leader of Barbados as a free nation was the right honorable Errol Walton Barrow, of the Democratic labor party.

Barbadian Flag represents their independence from England. Neptune's tridents appeared in and seal when the island was still a colony. The broken trident on the flag is thus being thus representative of the break with our past, and the step toward independence. The blue panels are for the sea and the sky, while the center gold panel is for the sand of their beaches. The Barbadian Coat of Arms carries the national flower in each corner of its golden shield, and the bearded fig tree. Although the English were the first to settle on the island, the Portuguese actually founded it, who, named the island Los Barbados, meaning The Bearded Ones. Later the English dropped the Los, calling the island simply Barbados. Above the shield and the helmet a hand holds two pieces of sugar cane in the shape of St Andrews Cross. One the left of the shield is a dolphin, a local fish, representative of the fishing industry, and on the other side of the shield is a pelican. They celebrate independence day on St. Andrews day, the 30th of November.

FOOD

The national dish of Barbados is flying fish and cou cou. Cou cou is a mashed potato like dish made from corn meal and okra. They cover it with an au jus made from the flying fish preparation. Pudding and souse are also distinctly Barbadian, but are not for everyone. Fish of all manners is naturally a primary menu topper, and some people say that unless you have eaten Bajan style fish, then you have not experienced its magnificence. Roti, a folded pastry filled with spicy potato and meat in a sauce is the Caribbean reply to north American fast food. Barbados has lots of drinks. It is a thirsty island. Around Christmas time you can find a wonderful drink from the sorrel plant. This red cinnamon like drink is served with and without alcohol. Year round you can find the best rum punches in the Caribbean along with a popular drink called mauby, which they make from a bark soaked in spices. It has a bitter tang that is an acquired taste, and there is fruit punch and countless juices prepared from fresh fruits. Though Barbados and cheap dining are far from synonymous, you will find good value for money in all the dining categories. Along the south coast, particularly in St Lawrence Gap, and the west coast holetown area, restaurants post their menus so you can scan the menus and prices beforehand.

GEOGRAPHIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

Beaches are what they are known for, and there is a good reason for that! Barbados has everything you could want in a beach. From the East Coast where they do not recommend swimming. They hold the International Surfing and Wind Surfing Competitions, to the golden West Coast, with its almost lake-like waters and dazzling sunsets. The water is always warm, and whether you want to watch the marine wildlife in action or just get wet and have fun they have a place for you! There are about seven ships sunk at various places around the island, offering spectacular diving sites. Most of the ships were sunk on the West Coast, though two are on the South. For those less inclined to diving and