Stacey
04-05-2004, 12:16 PM
One of the distinguishing marks of Cayman Brac (which is the Gaelic term for "bluff") is it's so named cliff that runs through its center. Starting on the islands west end, it rises to 140 feet at its eastern tip. As a result of this, Cayman Brac was the first of the Caymans discovered by Christopher Columbus in the year 1503. He first named this island "Las Tortugas" which means "The Turtles". This was because when they spotted land, it was covered with turtles in the water and the land.
For many years these islands were unpopulated, and the only visitors were ships passing the islands or by pirates hoping to find hiding places for their treasures.
Later on the local iguanas were mistaken to be alligators, and so the island became named "Cayman" islands after the Caymanas alligator.
The first real people to settle on the island were men who had deserted the British navy, which was stationed in Jamaica at the time.
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman islands population grew quickly until the turn of the century, while the larger island of Grand Cayman was still relatively undeveloped.
Some of the best seamen in the world hail from the Cayman islands, and as a result the role of the women of the island was a strong one. While their men were at sea, they basically ran the affairs of the island. This is still seen today on these islands.
For many years these islands were unpopulated, and the only visitors were ships passing the islands or by pirates hoping to find hiding places for their treasures.
Later on the local iguanas were mistaken to be alligators, and so the island became named "Cayman" islands after the Caymanas alligator.
The first real people to settle on the island were men who had deserted the British navy, which was stationed in Jamaica at the time.
Cayman Brac and Little Cayman islands population grew quickly until the turn of the century, while the larger island of Grand Cayman was still relatively undeveloped.
Some of the best seamen in the world hail from the Cayman islands, and as a result the role of the women of the island was a strong one. While their men were at sea, they basically ran the affairs of the island. This is still seen today on these islands.