The larger island was initially called by the name Heneagua, which may derive from a Spanish expression meaning 'water is to be found there'.[4] Two names of apparent Lucayan origin, Inagua (meaning "Small Eastern Island") and Baneque (meaning "Big Water Island"), were used by the Spanish to refer to Great Inagua.[5][6][7]
Between the years of 1500 and 1825, many documented treasure laden ships were destroyed on Inaguan reefs. The two most valuable wrecks lost off the Inaguas were treasure-laden Spanishgalleons: the Santa Rosa in 1599; and the Infanta in 1788. Other ships of considerable value that were wrecked there include the French Le Count De Paix in 1713,[8] the BritishHMS Lowestoffe in 1801,[9][10] and the British HMS Statira in 1815.[11]
As early as the 1600s, salt was being produced and shipped to Spanish colonies,[12] and its extraction was a going business by 1803.[12]
Henri Christophe, king of northern Haiti from 1811 to 1820, built[when?] a summer retreat at the Northeast Point of Great Inagua.[12] Local legend has it that he also buried a cache of gold there.[13]
By 1918, after the end of World War I, lower salt prices and competition had driven the small producers on Great Inagua out of business, and the salt works were abandoned except for incidental local use.[14]
In 1935, the Erickson brothers from Massachusetts founded West India Chemicals Ltd., purchasing the abandoned salt works from the British government.[15] They drilled test holes, set up offices, and began restoration of the buildings, but the locals[16] felt threatened, fearing changes to the power structure status quo.[17] In August 1937, a riot broke out, an employee was killed, and the Ericksons were forced to flee.[18][19] They soon returned, and full-scale development resumed.[20]
Great Inagua is the second largest island in the Bahamas at 596 sq mi (1544 km2) and lies about 55 miles (89 kilometres) from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 by 19 mi (89 by 31 km) in extent and mostly flat with some sand hills, the highest points being East Hill at 132 ft (40 m), Salt Pond Hill at 102 ft (31 m), and James Hill at 90 ft (27 m).[4] It encloses several lakes, most notably the 12-mile (19 km) long Lake Windsor (also called Lake Rosa) which occupies nearly a quarter of the interior. The population of Great Inagua is 913 (2010 census).[26]
The island's capital and only harbour is Matthew Town, named after George Matthew, a 19th-century Governor of the Bahamas. This town houses the Morton Salt Company’s main facility, producing one million tonnes of sea salt a year — the second largest solar saline operation in North America and Inagua's main industry.[citation needed]
The neighbouring Little Inagua, 8 km (5 mi; 4 nmi) to the northeast, is uninhabited and occupied by a large Land and Sea Park.[29] It has an area of 30 sq mi (78 km2), with herds of feraldonkeys and goats (descendants of stock introduced by the French). Various species of endangered sea turtles breed on the island.[29] Little Inagua has a large protective reef extending up to 1 mile (1,600 m) away from the island in all directions, which prevents boats from coming too close.[citation needed]
^In 2012 $20,000 was contracted for repairs to the government complex in Matthew Town, including repairs to "the clock tower rooftop, the post office area and the upstairs district council area." McCartney, Juan (13 June 2012). "Minister's contract claims disputed". The Nassau Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
^D. Gail Saunders, “The 1937 Riot In Inagua, The Bahamas,” Nieuwe West-Indische Gids / New West Indian Guide, Vol. 62, No. 3/4 (1988), pp. 129-145 at p. 13.1.
^Brooks, Baylus C. (2016). Quest for Blackbeard: The True Story of Edward Thache and His World. Lake City, Florida: Lulu. pp. 225–226. ISBN978-1-365-32821-3. citing "America and West Indies: July 1716," Calendar of State Papers; "Journal, July 1716: Journal Book S,"Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations, Volme 3; March 1715 – October 1718 (1924), pp. 159–173
^Goodwin, Peter (2002). Nelson's Ships: A History of the Vessels in which he Served: 1771–1805. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 63. ISBN978-0-8117-1007-7.
^The Statira Shoal, just southeast of Great Inagua, is named after it and is where the ship wrecked. Barnett, Edward; et al. (1887). "The Bahamas general description, population, exports and imports: Great Inagua". The West India Pilot, Volume II (Fourth ed.). London: HM Hydrographic Office. p. 486.
^ abcPavlidis, Stephen J. (2002). On and off the beaten path: The central and southern Bahamas guide from south Florida to the Turks and Caicos (second ed.). Port Washington, Wisconsin: Seaworthy Publications. p. 300. ISBN978-0-9639566-9-9.
^Hannau, Hans W.; Mock, Bernd H. (1973). Beneath the Seas of the West Indies: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda. New York: Hastings House. p. 47. OCLC253266419., reprinted in 1984 in London by Robert Hale Ltd.ISBN978-0-7090-2064-6
^Kurlansky, Mark (2003). "Chapter Twentysix: Big Salt Little Salt". Salt: A World History. London: Penquin. p. 350. ISBN978-0-14-200161-5.
^Johnson, Patricia (2012). The Bahama Islands Some Facts You Should Know. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris. p. 25. ISBN978-1-4797-0521-4.
^In 2008 Morton employed about 60% of the island's working population. "Workers at Bahamas' Morton Salt plant end strike". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. 27 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
Erickson, Margery O. (1987). Great Inagua. Garrison, New York: Capriole Press. OCLC16662171.
Klingel, Gilbert C. (1940). The Ocean Island (Inagua). New York: Dodd, Mead. OCLC1540989. Also published under the title: Inagua: Which is the Name of a Very Lonely and Nearly Forgotten Island. (Natural History of the island)
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