Tortolla, B.V. I.

This island is part of the 60+ British Virgin Islands totally over 60 square miles; annexed by the British in 1672, it became a separate colony in 1956. Most of the islands are mere rocks, coral or volcanic atolls. The early history started with the arrival of Amerindians, the Cibony Tribe from Venezuela, then the Taino Arawak, who were annihilated by the Caribs, the bloodthirsty cannibal group whom the Caribbean was named for, in the 1300’s. Christopher Columbus discovered Tortolla in 1493. The usual Caribbean struggle of takeovers by Spain and the Netherlands ensued, but it was the English who settled in 1621 although plagued by pirates including Blackbeard. It was the home of many infamous pirates who were displaced in the 1700’s when the English made the islands prosper with sugar, cotton, indigo, and rum. The freeing of the slaves in 1834, finished the plantation lifestyle.

We toured the island, named for turtle doves, hers one in the tree, which are more numerous apparently than the 1700 inhabitants. It is only 11 miles long and 3 wide. It is all hills, pushed up from the ocean floor by volcanoes long ago. We went up and down, past the generator plant and desalinization plant. Today, tourism and offshore banking centers are the basis of their economy.

We saw Rastafarians, members of a religion that encourages long hair and there were many with ingenious hair styles. We stopped at a little beach where they have huge 'Moon Parties' every full moon and it sounds like it's all rum and dancing. Most interesting was the painted wall. There are about 25 murals, depicting the island history from plantation life, slaves, and families to activities today, and of course the turtle doves in the trees.