TourismToday

Cat Island, Bahamas, June 6, 2010…. Drawn to Cat Island by the annual rake N’ Scrape Festival writers for Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine, David Herndon and Zachary L. Stovall spent three days recently delving into this island’s rich history.
Developing material for a feature on the island in the widely read magazine, Herndon and Stovall made a bee- line on arrival for the home of Mrs. Minerva Rolle for an interview; She is the oldest female resident of Bennett’s Harbour, the island’s capital, and she regaled them with some “ole time history talk” about what it was like growing up on Cat Island comparing the memories to the changes that have occurred over the years.

“ Ah child life on Cat Island now is much different than those days” said Mrs. Rolle. We grew and harvested crops such as cassava, corn, peas, sugar cane, potato; we also fished and exported sisal to market.” Explaining various aspects of the island’s culture , she explained that Rake N’ Scrape and dances- like the quadrille, the poka, and the waltz. Were adopted by the slaves in earlier days. They picked up the steps and the music, but carefully measured the rhythms and movements. They adopted the dances, but made the music and steps their own. They got hold of the concertina, the favourite instrument of the seamen because it was both cheap and portable, and combined drums, saws, jawbones, bells, notched pieces of wood, rattles and what ever else they could find to make their music. The texts of the songs are often related to happenings on the island.

It was then on to explore some of the island’s historical sites , making stops at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, New Bight settlement, and the regatta site where sloop sailing takes place. That annual event takes place on August Monday holiday week end . Sailing enthusiasts, boat builders and owners all get together to enjoy the sailing competition, tasty native dishes, good music and to catch up on good times with family and friends all of which makes for sold out hotels for the three day events.

The journalists also visited John Hopkin’s slave plantation, which was established for the production of cotton by slaves. Climbing Mount Alvernia to the highest point in the Bahamas to visit the Hermitage, which was built by Jesuit priest Father Jerome, who dedicated many years to the solitary pursuit, was a moving experience for the writers.

Climbing Mt. Alvernia also gave Herndon and Stovall greater appreciation for the Blue Bird Restaurant at the foot of the hill, where lured by smiling faces and the smell of good island cooking, they stopped to get a cooling drink and a nibble.

Other stops included Pilot Harbour, where ships would anchor and use small boats to tender passengers to the island. Old Bight , the village that was once a terminus for an old railroad that brought hundreds of tons of sisal and pineapple to the port for shipping to the United States and Europe. Port Howe , site of the ruins of the Deveaux plantation , which was named after Andrew Deveaux a British commander-in-chief and was a place of fortification for pirates. The writers found particular interest in the largest grave yard on Cat Island because it is believed that many of the Loyalist opted to have their treasures , monies buried along with them.

Finally, after a scrumptious and delicious lunch at Sammy T’s restaurant consisting of conch chowder, salad, steak, fish, potato and vegetables with thirst quenching soft drinks, the writers rested a while to recharge in order to enjoy the music of the festival.

Performers included the visiting Turks & Caicos Rake N’ Scrape Band, Ophie & The Boys, John “Chippie” Chipman, Metellus Chipman, who honored Tony Mckay in dance, Fontella Chipman (fire dancer), spirited and energetic Terez Hepburn and KB along with the Lasido Boys. The night was closed out by smooth talking and dancing Ronnie Butler.

At the end of it all, Herndon and Stovall had arrived at one conclusion: Cat Island is truly the place to visit, particularly for Rake N’ Scrape festivals.