A History of the Bahamas [3 ed.] 0969256809, 9780969256809

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Visitors to the “Isles of June” extol their incomparable beaches and waters. Financiers too know the Bahamas as a picturesque country on America’s doorstep, with an equally salubrious taxation and investment climate. What this book shows is that the islands also have a fascinating and colourful history. First told in 1962, with an update in 1968, this story is now brought down to 1985 in a completely rewritten Third Edition. Columbus, the discoverer, is succeeded by rapacious Spaniards who destroy the peaceful Lucayan aborigines. English Puritan “Adventurers” give way to corrupt or comical proprietary Governors under whom piracy flourishes. The first royal Governor, better known as the rescuer of Robinson Crusoe, expels the pirates; but the buccaneering spirit persists. Nassau, a favourite haunt of priva¬ teers and smugglers during the wars of the eighteenth century, is sacked by Americans and Spaniards. Reinforced by a flood of Loyalists and their slaves after the War of Independence, the natives try to wrest cotton, pineapples and sisal from the reluctant soil. Happier on the sea, they fish for sponges, conch and crawfish, or hunt for wrecks and sunken gold. During the American Civil War they risk the Union blockade of the southern ports and during Prohibition they evade the Excise men to supply the thirsty ships of New York s “Rum Row”. Then in the mid-twentieth century they turn their talents and enthusiasm to tourism and catering to foreign residents and “offshore” companies. * Change accelerates after World War Two, with the creation of political parties on racial lines and a rising demand for independence. The black PLP comes to power in 1967 and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas becomes an independent nation in 1973. Since then, the ship of state, with Prime Minister Lynden Pindling continuously at the helm, has had to steer a - )urse' Developing the islands’ £1 / 33 (cont. on rear flap) ontCE

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Also by Michael Craton

A Jamaican Plantation The History of Worthy Park, 1670-1970

Sinews of Empire A Short History of Worthy Park, 1670-1970

Searching for the Invisible Man Slaves and Plantation Life in Jamaica

Testing the Chains Resistance to Slavery in the British West Indies

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A History of the Bahamas by Michael Craton

Third Edition San Salvador Press 1986

5254220

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%y © Michael Craton 1962 © Second Edition 1968 © Third Edition 1986 San Salvador Press 70, Longwood Dr., Waterloo,

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2 1 APR 1987

Canada N2L 4B7

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Craton, Michael (1931) A History of the Bahamas Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 0-9692568-0^9 (bound) ISBN 0-9692568-1-7 (pbk) 1, Bahamas—History I. Title F1656.C72 1986 972.96 C86-094199-X Printed in the USA by BookCrafters Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118 Sole Distributors in the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands, Bahamian News Limited, PO Box N8196, Nassau, Bahamas

For Pat, Lorna, Mandy and Darius