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The chart and following text are from The Southern Bahamas Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis
By some people’s consensus, Columbus’ first landfall in the New World on Oct. 12, 1492, was made on San Salvador and no less than four monuments will remind you of that although other islands have at one time claimed the honor. Ask different Bahamians and you will find claims that Columbus first landed on Samana, or Cat Island, it almost depends on who you ask. If you subscribe to the popular theory that Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador, then you will know that the island was originally called Guanahani by the Lucayans who lived here at that time. San Salvador was known as Watling’s Island until 1925-1926 and was named after the pirate George Watling who was noted for his strict observance of the Sabbath Day. He severely punished his crew if they so much as threw dice on a Sunday. On some old charts the island is spelled Watland. The ruins of what is known as Watling’s "Castle" (although some say the ruins date to a time later than the pirate’s career) still stand some 85’ above sea level at Sandy Point awaiting your exploration. San Salvador is approximately 12 miles long and from 5-7 miles wide. It is surrounded by dangerous reefs and has no all weather anchorage. There is a beautiful lake in the interior that may be the one Columbus referred to saying that it would hold "…all the ships in Christendom." If that is true he neglected to mention that a canal would have to be dredged through the cay to the sea to accomplish this. San Salvador was once noted for its breed of horses and other livestock, consignments of which were sent to Jamaica on a regular basis. The island once provided hardwoods such as lignumvitae in abundance. The U.S. Navy had a submarine tracking station on San Salvador for many years. Some local inhabitants feel that the base, as well as the U.S. Pan-American Base also on San Salvador, were bad for the economy in general. True, they brought a boom to the economy when they were here, but they also caused a severe slump when they departed. For over twenty years the young sons and daughters of San Salvador forgot the ways of fishing and farming to earn their money in the employ of the military presence. When they left, the young San Salvadorans faced a decision, return to the ways of their ancestors, or move to Nassau or some other place where they could make better money perhaps and live a lifestyle that they had become accustomed to. Many left, only a few stayed. Now however, San Salvador has come into its own as a tourist destination and hopefully the sons and daughters will not have to leave the island in search of the almighty dollar. |
