Andros is rich with history, culture and ancient rituals. Since before the 1400s, immigrants from Africa to South America have traveled far across the oceans to settle her shores. These brave voyagers brought with them customs and traditions as varied as the lands from which they came. Andros is truly a melting pot of different races, religions and economic backgrounds whose descendants have come to live in harmony and realize that when you live in paradise, there are no bad days. That is the peaceful beauty of the Androsian people.
The island has a rich history of inhabitants like the Taino-Arawaks from South America, their descendants the Lucayans, the San Andreans from the Mosquito Coast, slaves and Seminole Indians from Florida and a smattering of British Army veterans of the War of 1812.
The first recorded "discovery" of Androsor "La Isla del Espiritu Santo" (The Island of the Holy Spirit) as the Spanish named itwas in 1550 while they were searching for slave labor.
However, by 1782 the island was called San Andreas, possibly named after the 1,400 inhabitants of St. Andreas Island off the Mosquito Coast who came to inhabit the island in 1787. The modern name Andros is believed to be in honor of Sir Edmond Andros, Commander of His Majesty Forces in Barbados in 1672.
Chickcharnies
The legends of Andros are as rich and interesting as its factual history. Many of the locals still believe in the chickcharniesmythical, magical, half man/half bird-like elves with red eyes, three fingers, three toes and feathers. These creatures are said to live in the tops of pine trees and, according to myth, will cause considerable mischief to those who look upon them and grimace, but cast lifelong good luck to those who show them respect.
Lusca
Legend also has it that the octopus-like sea creature Lusca, the island version of the "Loch Ness Monster," lurks in the watery depths of the blue holes and takes pleasure in dragging men and small boats down to their doom. Andros also has its share of mysteries based on partial fact. Morgan Bluff, the headquarters of the infamous pirate Sir Henry Morgan, is said to be the resting place of one of his undiscovered buried treasures.
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