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Belize History, Ambergris Caye History
Mesoamerican Studies
dredged the Bacalar Channel to facilitate the transportation of their treasures to
History of Orange Walk mainland Belize. It is during this period that Ambergris Caye supposedly got its
name. The pirates, always out to make a quick buck, are believed to have been
2001- Year in Review
whalers and eventually logwood cutters. It is said that the pirates collected Whale
Ramon Nunez: Fisherman,
excrement, called ambergris, that washed up on shore of the island. The oil from
First Diver in Belize, Tourism this ambergris was sent to Europe where it was highly valued for its use in making
Ambassador
perfumes.
Building with Thatch
The pirates eventually turned to logwood cutting on the mainland, and left the
Mayan House Construction
island unoccupied.
The Way We Lived Back
Then
Portfolio of information on
British Honduras (1961)
The island served as a hideaway for the ships attacking the Spanish fleet during the 17th century.
The remote locations and safe harbours offered a haven for the English, French, and Dutch
pirates of the day. The many shipwrecks in the area can attest to that! The village of San Pedro
was founded by Mestizo refugees from the wars in the Yucatan area. English officials allowed
them to settle hoping they would help to feed the workers in the wood-products camps. The first
big migration was in 1848-1849. Thus the English became landlords over the farmers and
fishermen of the area.

As time progressed the British settlers who inhabited mainland Belize achieved great economic and political
advances. A company of wealthy businessmen formed a company named Belize Agriculture Company and held the
first legal title to the island. They acquired the island for agricultural purposes. and it is believed that they might
have planted Sea Island Cotton. This business failed and in 1842 the land was sold to Mr. Welsh and Mr. Golf.
These men later approached the Superintendent in charge and requested that they be given title to the land
because they had purchased it from the Belize Agriculture Company. The Superintendent was hesitant because
there was an ongoing territorial dispute between the British and Mexicans over the island. Mexico claimed
Ambergris Caye as a part of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Superintendent did not wish to provoke the Mexicans but
eventually conceded an issued a Crown Grant on March 19th,1842.

By this time the Caye was already inhabited by Mexican fishermen and their families, probably from Xcalak,
Mexico just north of Ambergris Caye. In 1847 the Mayans in Mexico who had been kept in legal slavery by the
Spanish and Mexicans for more than 300 years revolted and the Caste War ensued and lasted for 60 years.
Mayans, Mexicans and even Spanish fled to find a safe haven that they could call home.In the first year of the war
refugees entered the British settlement and requested permission to settle mostly in the northern part of present
day Belize. Permission was granted and a small number of immigrants numbering about 50 families, came to
Ambergris Caye and joined the settlers already there.

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