You think you know; I bet not! History alert!
We’ve been remiss in sharing a bit of background related to our most recent destination, Cat Island, so here goes.
As we’ve seen, nearly all of the inhabited islands have the same story. Spanish came, disease and slaving emptied the place, next came the pirates, and when “order” came with the English, we finally get settlers/loyalists around the 1780’s.
Cat Island is no different, except…
Along with about 10 other islands, it was thought to be the first place Columbus landed in the new world! See, when he landed, he called the place San Salvador (Christ the Savior). This was the place, for like 400 years! And then it wasn’t. Boy, what a debate! Who knew? For those history buffs, here’s a link to just one consolidated website (happy reading): Columbus Landfall. In the end, they don’t have the foggiest.
In 1926, the British government just decided for all of us. To accomplish that, they changed the name of this island back to Cat Island and changed a little island south of here that was called Watlings Island to San Salvador! Got it? They just kinda moved history.
And the name Cat Island? “Thought” to be taken from a pirate, Arthur Catt, who used to hang out here. Or so they say…
Despite all that, the Bahamian government describes Cat Island today as one of the least-known inhabited islands in the Bahamas. It resembles a slanted “J” West of its top is a little island called, you guessed it, Little San Salvador! That’s where the huge cruise ship was visiting (Crossing to Cat Island post). Cat island is about 50 miles long and not more 5 miles wide anywhere along its length.
It’s a special island, despite its size. Home to the late Sir Sidney Poitier, the famous prolific actor. We older folks might remember him in movies like, “To Sir, with Love,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “In the Heat of the Night,” or “They Call Me Mr. Tibbs!” So many! Well, he was prematurely born in Miami while his parents were there on business but was Bahamian through and through, as he grew up here on Cat Island, in Arthur’s Town.
Cat Island is also the home of the tallest point in the Bahamas! Mount Alvernia, at 206 feet, and it has a special place perched on top. We are looking at it as we sit at anchor right here in New Bight, but that exploration is for another day. Can we go yet? Come on, Honey. Let’s go!
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