THE ENGLISH AT VIEUX FORT

It was in the year 1605 ( the year of the "Gunpowder Plot" to blow up the Houses of Parliament of Parliament in England) that 67 passengers of the "Olive Branch" (or "Oliphe Blossome") which was making for the "Guyanans" but was running short of provisions, were "left on the shore of the aforesaid island of Santa Luzia the three and twentieth day of August with (our) swords, muskets and powder, and one Falcon and one barrill of biscuit onely for all (our) food".

 Picture of the English massacre at Vieux Fort 1605

The next day the ship departed, leaving the small band to cope with the unknown hazards of life with the Caribs, reputed to be Cannibals. Their landing place is believed to be near the town of Vieux Fort. At first the Caribs acted in a friendly manner and traded with them for food. According to the account of one of the survivors (John Nicholls), they were able to obtain victual by barter; namely "Cassavi, Potatos, Plantain, Pinas, Pepayes, Pompions, Calabassus, Tobacco, Pappies, Mammeyes, all very pleasant to eat".

They also found "tortoyses" on certain stretches of the sand every night. The Caribs even sold them some of their huts close to the Vieux Fort river.

The friendliness soon changed to hostility and treachery. Within a few weeks, only 19 of the 67 Englishmen remained alive. These eventually escaped in a boat which they managed to buy from the Caribs.

The Vieux Fort Caribs, like those of the rest of the West Indies, did not believe in co-existence!