Colonization in the Lesser Antilles changed the course of the history of the Arawak-Caribbean aborigines. The rise of the conquest and the massive exodus of explorers and slavers to the new world gave rise to the intensive trafficking of African labor, as a result of which a new racial group was formed on the island of San Vicente, from where the Garífuna or Calíponam community.
At the end of the 4,584th century, the indigenous Caribs (Garífuna) seeking to establish alliances began to receive the black fugitives from the plantations and other castaways, who were integrated into their communities. 12 Garífuna raised in defense of their territories had been captured by the English on the island of San Vicente and transferred to the island of Roatán, arriving at dusk on Wednesday, April 2,026. There were XNUMX Garifuna survivors who touched Honduran soil, there were men, women and children.
Between 1824 and 1842 the Miskito monarch Robert Charles Fredrick had his residence in this territory. In 1860 the La Mosquitia Reserve was created on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, by an agreement between the English and North American governments in which our country had no part, and Laguna de Perlas was integrated into its territory, being considered its second city for its importance.
In 1894, the Nicaraguan government incorporated this reserve into the national territory, extinguishing the Miskito monarchy, and Laguna de Perlas became part of the Zelaya department, but even after the decline of their reign, the Miskito chiefs continued to prefer Laguna de Perlas as place of residence.
At first in its history, Laguna de Perlas was a commercial center of some importance, which was combined with agriculture and fishing as sources of subsistence for the population. However, to the extent that the second aforementioned activity expanded, as a consequence of the start of exports of the product, agriculture was relegated until the arrival of mestizo settlers from the Pacific and the interior of the country, in the middle of the XNUMXth century.
As a municipality, Laguna de Perlas owes its name to the lagoon of the same name, located approximately in the center of the territory and which is its main source of subsistence. This name of the lagoon in turn derives from the Pearl Cays, belonging to the municipality and which were already named that way by the European conquerors in 1776.
Artistic expressions and manifestations
Dance
Music and dance of the Maypole and plot role, ribbon pole (stick of ribbons) in the Creole people, also the usus mairin (Miskito dance) and mosco dance.
Music
Heremun (hymnal) Garífuna, of the Garífuna people.
Legends
From the creole people
Anancy Story or Bredda Nancy: Anancy's story is of African origin and is over a thousand years old. Anancy is a very clever and cunning spider, given to compete with other beings of the animal kingdom, such as the monkey, the rabbit and the pig, whom he defeats thanks to his tricks, his cunning, his wisdom and his experience. The stories of Anancy or Bredda Nancy are very varied, and they usually speak of the solidarity and friendship that should reign among friends in the face of the adversities of destiny.
Legend of the hidden treasure: according to the elders, this legend dates back to historical events of the seventeenth century, when pirates hid in Bragman's Bluff, near what is now the La Bocana spa, a gold booty that they stole from the Spanish.
To ensure the secret of the loot, the pirates sacrificed one of their companions, and buried him next to the loot for safekeeping. As the pirates never returned, legend has it that the deceased pirate wishes to deliver the treasure to a person, for which he appears in a dream and asks people to accompany him to reveal where the loot is hidden.
Other legends mentioned are:
Legend of the ape man, creole people
Doreth Fox story, creole people
Elizabeth Levi de Chin story, creole people
Nathan's Adventure (Nathan's Adventure)
Mediation between the living and the dead (Mediation between the living and the dead)
Of the Garífuna people
The abandonment of Ibo Point: There was a man from Ibo Point who had done a lot of damage there in Honduras. Then they sent a spirit to kill him, this spirit had the virtue of appearing in the form of a tiger or a monkey. On one occasion, when the bad man who had done the damage was lying in a hammock, the spirit came in the form of a monkey and urinated on him. Few hours lasted the man to die.
The frightened people decided to leave the community and went to San Vicente. One by one they left Ibo Point and they never returned, because they said that this evil spirit lived there. In that they have a pantheon of their first relatives.
History of John Sambola and Miriam Blandón: the grandparents always tell the story of the love life of the founder of Orinoco, John Sambola; They say that John once went out with his brothers to hunt animals. During this outing, John did not find a keel, a cusuco, or a mountain pig, only a wild woman who did not wear clothes, he caught her and took her to the community. After living for a while, she agreed to wear clothes and use a comb and began to acquire the customs of the people of the community, to the point that John's relatives decided that she would be his wife. So it was that they married and had children.
The Spirit of the Waters: Toño used to fish in a canoe in the Pearl Lagoon, he did it at night in a place called Lauba. One night when he was in his canoe, he heard a noise and looked at an object that was approaching. It looked like a great candle. He heard a voice that asked him to warn the people on the shore not to throw garbage in his house. Toño asked: "Who is talking to me?" and the voice replied: "I am the one who cares for all these waters." Then Toño got scared and rushed out to tell what had happened to him.
Local figures who have contributed to the history and culture of the town
Joseph Sambola: patriarch-head of one of the Garífuna families that settled in the town of Orinoco in 1912. This community continues to be the main center of Garífuna culture.
Aubrey Taylor: Professional and amateur baseball pitcher famous for his 90+ mile pitches.
Other sites of historical and cultural interest
Ancient canyon of Laguna de Perlas: located in the municipal dock of Laguna de Perlas, the barrel is made of black iron; It came with the English in the XNUMXth century, when the Pearl Lagoon was an important trading site for textiles, wood, rubber, bananas, sarsaparilla, and other primary products.
The English used it to fire salutes and signals or to celebrate great occasions. There is another canyon at Gun Point, on the west bank of Pearl Lagoon, at Marshall Point.
Orinoco Community: Garífuna, a people full of culture made up of Arawak, African and European traditions, which they represent in their Punta and Wanaragua dances, their sacred drums, the Anancy fables, ancestor worship, banana foods, beliefs and practices regarding their ancestors. Their traditional belief for healing the sick is walagallo (dugu, shugu), as a traditional medicine to support the terminally ill.
The community is a place full of movement, where you will get to know its culture, its unique crafts made of tortoiseshell, rosewood and coral wood, dance and music. It is possible to take tours of the community observing wetlands and the nature associated with this ecosystem.
On November 19 of each year, the inhabitants celebrate the National Garífuna Day, where sports, cultural and religious activities are carried out. The community is reached through boats or pangas, from Bluefields or Laguna de Perlas, it is recommended to ask well about the times and days of boat departures.
From Orinoco, you can walk on a path to the Marshall Point community, where Miskitos and Creoles coexist, in an environment of great natural beauty and tranquility.
Miskito community of Kahkabila: You can visit and enjoy Laguna de Perlas and its rivers, organizing a tour of the various communities in the lagoon basin. Accommodation services are provided here in a community hostel.
Awas Community: it is located minutes from the community from Laguna de Perlas, it is Miskito, very popular among the population for having a lagoon beach that becomes a spa in the summer season, due to its calm waters with little depth. It is possible to walk or take a taxi to get to this community from Laguna de Perlas, passing through the Miskito community of Raitipura.
Rocky Point: It is a multi-ethnic community made up of Creoles, Miskitos, Garífunas and mestizos which is based in a broadleaf forest where there are criques that have mangroves and wetlands on its banks.
Crafts
Making musical instruments: horse jaw, shake-shake (maracas), the wash tub (wash tub) and grater with fork, in the Creole town.
Elaboration of fishing instruments: boats and harpoons, always in the Creole village.
Elaboration of Garífuna kitchen instruments: eggi (scratcher); ibisi (strainer); ruguma, woula (juicer); hana and maata.
Gallery
Tourist Offer Map