The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands (New Perspectives on the History of the South) [Paperback]

Roger C. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: New Perspectives on the History of the South | Publication Date: September 30, 2001

“The first illustrated nautical history of the Caymans. . . . For those interested in the sea and the history of the Caribbean and for travelers who wish to learn more about the Caymans and their wonderful resources.”--Colonial Latin American Historical Review

“Fascinating information.”--Choice

"Neatly summarizes the history and archaeology of these small islands located at the crossroads of the Caribbean, covering an array of topics as diverse as crocodiles and pirates, the simultaneous wrecking of 10 ships on a treacherous reef, the building of sloops and schooners, and the importance of sea turtles as a food source for colonists and mariners. There is a little bit of everything here, and it is all fascinating."—Kevin Crisman, Texas A&M University

"A fascinating story of how the sea molded the lives of people inhabiting the small and isolated Cayman Islands. . . . The perfect blend of archaeology and history."—William Keegan, curator of Caribbean archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History

Blending elements of geography, archaeology, and ethnography, this readable, illustrated history offers a fascinating portrait of all aspects of Caymanian nautical traditions and describes how an intrepid and independent group of islanders flourished on the frontiers of the sea.
 From the moment of their discovery by Europeans in 1503, the Caymans were recognized for their abundance of sea turtles, a resource that supported the colonization of the West Indies and fostered the development of a distinctive group of sea-hardened people whose nautical skills were known throughout the world. Roger C. Smith follows the mysterious tracks of the sea turtles and the mariners who hunted them, from the shores of the Caymans to the coastal lagoons of Cuba and finally to the Miskito Cays of Nicaragua. He also pursues the colonial exploits of privateers and pirates, examines the development of island catboats and schooners, and takes the reader underwater to the sites of unlucky ships that wrecked on poorly charted reefs.

Roger C. Smith, state underwater archaeologist for the Florida Division of Historical Resources, is the author of Vanguard of Empire: Ships of Exploration in the Age of Columbus and coauthor of An Atlas of Maritime Florida (UPF, 1997).

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

“The first illustrated nautical history of the Caymans. . . . For those interested in the sea and the history of the Caribbean and for travelers who wish to learn more about the Caymans and their wonderful resources.”--Colonial Latin American Historical Review

“Fascinating information.”--Choice

"Neatly summarizes the history and archaeology of these small islands located at the crossroads of the Caribbean, covering an array of topics as diverse as crocodiles and pirates, the simultaneous wrecking of 10 ships on a treacherous reef, the building of sloops and schooners, and the importance of sea turtles as a food source for colonists and mariners. There is a little bit of everything here, and it is all fascinating."—Kevin Crisman, Texas A&M University

"A fascinating story of how the sea molded the lives of people inhabiting the small and isolated Cayman Islands. . . . The perfect blend of archaeology and history."—William Keegan, curator of Caribbean archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History

Blending elements of geography, archaeology, and ethnography, this readable, illustrated history offers a fascinating portrait of all aspects of Caymanian nautical traditions and describes how an intrepid and independent group of islanders flourished on the frontiers of the sea.
 From the moment of their discovery by Europeans in 1503, the Caymans were recognized for their abundance of sea turtles, a resource that supported the colonization of the West Indies and fostered the development of a distinctive group of sea-hardened people whose nautical skills were known throughout the world. Roger C. Smith follows the mysterious tracks of the sea turtles and the mariners who hunted them, from the shores of the Caymans to the coastal lagoons of Cuba and finally to the Miskito Cays of Nicaragua. He also pursues the colonial exploits of privateers and pirates, examines the development of island catboats and schooners, and takes the reader underwater to the sites of unlucky ships that wrecked on poorly charted reefs.

Roger C. Smith, state underwater archaeologist for the Florida Division of Historical Resources, is the author of Vanguard of Empire: Ships of Exploration in the Age of Columbus and coauthor of An Atlas of Maritime Florida (UPF, 1997).

From the Publisher

Now in Paperback!

Blending elements of geography, archaeology, and ethnography, this readable, illustrated history offers a fascinating portrait of all aspects of Caymanian nautical traditions and describes how an intrepid and independent group of islanders flourished.

From the moment of their discovery by Europeans in 1503, the Caymans were recognized for their abundance of sea turtles, a resource that supported the colonization of the West Indies and fostered the development of a distinctive group of sea-hardened people whose nautical skills were known throughout the world. Roger C. Smith follows the mysterious tracks of the sea turtles and the mariners who hunted them, from the shores of the Caymans to the coastal shores of the Caymans to the coastal lagoons of Cuba and finally to the Miskito Cays of Nicaragua. He also pursues the colonial exploits of privateers and pirates, examines the development of island catboats and schooners, and takes the reader underwater to the sites of unlucky ships that wrecked on poorly charted reefs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Florida; 1st edition (September 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813024471
• ISBN-13: 978-0813024479
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands, July 10, 2000

By 

Elmer E. W. Hurlstone (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands (New Perspectives on Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology) (Hardcover)

Pirates, naval warfare, ship wrecks and sunken treasure...this book has it all !

While archeology (even the marine variety) can be a dry subject, Roger C. Smith does an excellent and workmanlike job of extensively documenting the maritime history of the Cayman Islands.

As the son, grandson and nephew of a long line of Cayman Island mariners (my ancestors were among the first permanent settlers) I found the documentation of many of the stories told by my elders to be fascinating.

Today the Islands are best known as a tourist destination and a major player in the world of off-shore banking.

This was not always the case. In the distant through relatively recent past the Cayman Islands were a significant supplier of manpower to the regional and even the world maritime industry.

Mr. Smith documents the maritime evolution of the Cayman Islands with extensive research in the Islands and Europe.

Coupling the research with detailed field work and an ability to write in an informative and entertaning fashion results in a GREAT READ.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in maritime history, pirates, treasure or the Cayman Islands.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique contribution to Caribbean studies, February 22, 2009

By 

W. Wedenoja (Springfield, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands (New Perspectives on the History of the South) (Paperback)

The Caymans are a unique part of the Caribbean region in that a largely marine culture developed there. These three small, flat and remote islands between Jamaica and Cuba were not suitable for the sugar plantations that dominated the other islands. They did sustain a large number of crocodiles, and a great abundance of sea turtles. The islands were uninhabited before European discovery, and initially served as navigational landmarks, places to take on water and careen vessels, and sources of turtle meat for the Spanish, French, Dutch, and British. After 1655, they came under the control of England, and were settled in the early eighteenth century. The settlers made their living hunting turtles, first in their islands, later off the south coast of Cuba, and finally on the Miskito Bank of Central America. This endeavor also spawned a ship building industry and rope making. The Caymans are surrounded by reefs and, being low, are almost impossible to sight at night, therefore there are, as the author states, a "disproportionate number of shipwrecks." Islanders looted and salvaged wrecks as part of their livelihood. This book is an outstanding, comprehensive account of this maritime history and heritage, which was largely replaced by massive tourism in the late twentieth century. It is, most importantly, an authoritative account; the author is a marine archaeologist who has studied the islands for twenty years. His research includes underwater and terrestrial archaeological surveys and excavations, archival research, oral histories, ethnohistory, and ethnography. Yet it is also a pleasant, entertaining, and well-illustrated read, equally suitable for the scholar and the casual reader.