Corn Islands: History

Pre-20th-Century History

The original inhabitants of Big and Little Corn Islands were the Kukras Indians, who came across from the mainland. They were an agricultural people, who took advantage of the islands' great fishing conditions - whilst also reportedly supplementing their diet with the occasional meal of human flesh. First European contact came when Christopher Columbus breezed through in 1502, but it wasn't until 1660, when a French pirate by the name of Jean David Nau arrived, that continuous contact was made with the Indians.

British pirates and African slaves arrived in the 1700s, and both groups mingled with the Kukras. Although the British left the islands in 1786 as part of a treaty with the Spanish, they returned in 1841 after independence from Spain. Gathering all the islands' inhabitants together, Superintendent of British Honduras, Colonel Alexander McDonald, announced the liberation of the slaves, on behalf of Queen Victoria and King Robert Charles Frederic of the Mosquito Coast. This event is still celebrated on the islands in late August every year with crab soup, beauty pageants and dancing. The Corn Islands remained a British protectorate until 1894, when the Nicaraguan government claimed them.

Modern History

In 1914, the Nicaraguan government handed the Corn Islands over to the United States for a 99-year lease under the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty. Though this meant the islands were subject to American law, they remained Nicaraguan territory and their administration continued to be handled locally. The lease was terminated in 1971, under the Convention of Managua.

Fishing and the production of palm oil were the islands' major industries throughout much of the 20th century. However, after Hurricane Joan destroyed most of the palm trees on the islands in 1988, lobster fishing took over as the main source of income - although over-fishing is now threatening this industry as well.

Recent History

In recent years, tourism has become a very important part of the Corn Islands' economy. Big Corn Island has more infrastructure in place than Little Corn Island, but both are peaceful, relaxing travel destinations as yet unspoiled by Cancún-style resorts. The diving in the area is excellent pretty much year-round, and the beaches are a sunworshipper's dream.

Unfortunately, the islands' isolation and relatively minimal coastguard surveillance has made them a popular refuelling pit stop for Colombian drug boats. In the instances when these boats are pursued by police, the traffickers simply dump their booty overboard. Local fishermen soon discovered that fishing for this so-called 'white lobster' (as opposed to the real, increasingly scarce crustacean) was a lucrative source of income. As a result, the islands experienced a surge in petty theft, muggings and assaults - problems which were quickly addressed by a stronger police presence, and are now vastly improved.

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