Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Christian Worship Meets the Obeah
The native Virgin Islanders have strong
spiritual beliefs. The early Christian
missionaries were zealous. The slaves,
who were brought over from Africa,
took quickly to the Christian religion,
but the way they practiced it was
unique. Many times they incorporated
a belief in magic powers and a host of
superstitions that they brought over
from Africa.
The most famous mythological figure
of the Virgin Islands is the Obeah. Origi-
nally, belief in the Obeah was not strong
among native Virgin Islanders, but it did
enjoy cult status “down island,” a refer-
ence to the islands that sweep down-
ward toward South America. With the
influx of so many immigrant islanders
into the Virgin Islands looking for work
and better economic opportunities, the
Obeah arrived.
Basically, the Obeah is a “supersti-
tious force” that natives believe can be
responsible for both good and evil. It is
considered prudent not to get on the
bad side of this force, which might
reward you or make trouble for you. If
you encounter an old-timer islander
and ask, “How are you?” the answer is
likely to be, “Not too bad.” The person
who may actually feel great says this so
as not to tempt the force, which might
be listening.
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Embittered, Columbus called that part of the island
Cabo de Flechas,
or “Cape of the
Arrows,” and sailed toward Puerto Rico.
As the sponsor of Columbus's voyage, Spain claimed the Virgin Islands; however,
with more interest in the Greater Antilles, Spain chose not to colonize the Virgins,
leaving the door open to other European powers. In 1625, both the English and the
Dutch established opposing frontier outposts on St. Croix. Struggles between the two
nations for control of the island continued for about 20 years, until the English pre-
vailed (for the time being).
As the struggle among European powers widened, the islands continued to func-
tion as a battleground. In 1650, Spanish forces from Puerto Rico overran the British
garrison on St. Croix. Soon after, the Dutch invaded; in 1653, the island fell into the
hands of the Knights of Malta, who gave St. Croix its name.
However, these aristocratic French
cavaliers weren't exactly prepared for
West Indian plantation life, and their
debts quickly mounted. By 1674, King
Louis XIV of France took control of St.
Croix and made it part of his kingdom.
The English continued to fight
Dutch settlers in Tortola, which was
considered the most important of the
British Virgin Islands. It wasn't until
1672 that England added the entire
archipelago to its growing empire.
A year before, in March 1671, the
Danish West India Company made an attempt to settle St. Thomas. The company
sent two ships, but only one, the
Pharaoh,
completed the voyage, with about a third
of its crew. Eventually, reinforcements arrived, and by 1679, at least 156 Europeans
Impressions
There could never be lands any more
favorable in fertility, in mildness and
pleasantness of climate, in abundance
of good and pure water. A very peaceful
and hopeful place that should give all
adventurers great satisfaction.
—Captain Nathaniel Butler, HM Frigate
Nicodemus,
1637
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