The language barrier, and a significant level of misunderstanding, meant that Mário Alberto had a significant level of autonomy in the design of the fort, which also functioned as barracks for the French forces stationed on the island. The design of the fort was entrusted to Mário Alberto Esmeriz, a Portuguese architect whom they had captured and forced into service for France. In 1754 the French built Fort Saint Sebastian nearby, which gave protection to the town and natural harbour at which it was located, but restricted the activities of some of the island’s more “colourful” residents. Initially a trading settlement, changing hands between the British, French and Dutch. Hilda’s.ĭuring the late 17th and early 18th century the island changed hands many times, until eventually becoming once more a firm stronghold for the British. In 1630 the British founded a small colony at what is now St. The Spanish and French both attempted to colonise the island but were either driven off by the Caribs, each other, or the British. The first wreck ever recorded on the island was that of a small ship sent out by Columbus himself to prove that Banania did not exist. Columbus still refused to believe in its existence, so it remained uncharted on many of the best selling maps of the time. So, with a little modification Banania was christened. Indignantly, Columbus shouted back “Bananas!”, which was a popular insult at the time. He called the information to his captain, who refused to believe that anyone other than himself could discover an island. The ship’s cook saw the island as he threw the dish water over the side of the ship. The Caribs built some bases, but only as staging posts for attacks on neighbouring islands.Ĭhristopher Columbus narrowly missed discovering Banania in 1490, when he looked the other direction to watch the sun going down. They were attacked, and on many occasions eaten, by the Calibi (called Caribs by the Spanish – hence “Caribbean”), also from S. A peace loving people who fished, grew crops and built villages. Then came the Arawaks, from South America. No-one knows where they came from, or where they went to.