STORY
To date, no structures associated with the Spanish period of occupation have been found within Cockpit Country. But Queen of Spain’s Valley, to the north-west, and the Spanish road from Martha Brae (a corruption of Matar Tiberon - “to kill a shark”) to Oristan (Bluefields) through present day Maroon Town and Catadupa demonstrate the Spanish connection. This road was particularly useful for travelling north - south because it completely bypasses the Great River. A Spanish cathedral probably existed at Tilston. Place names and legends involving the Spanish also show the connection, notably the legend associated with Mahogany Hall and the area once called Spanish Crawle or Spanish Stockades, which appears to be the centre of Cockpit Country, and Spanish Quarters on 18th century maps, which is in north Cockpit Country.
The area from Great River through Cockpit Country to Rio Bueno as “Spanish Crawl” on maps dated 1710.
MARKET APPEAL:
The Spanish connection will attracting Spanish nationals and adds richness to the Maroon Story.
RESOURCES
The legend of Mahogany Hall developed from the discovery of three Spanish girls lamenting the death of their aged father, who had just died. They had sheltered from the British with an old Indian (Taino) woman living in the hollow base of an enormous Mahogany Tree.