Cannibal “Caribs”? A volcano under “Big Church?” A cave (populated by thousands of bats) that leads to Dominica? We welcome the New Year with a look at some enduring legends, separating the facts from the myths.

Careful! There is a volcano under “Big Church”!
Claim: The Anglican Cathedral (a.k.a. “Big Church) in St. John’s is built on a volcano.
False! The Anglican Cathedral is in fact built on a fossilised reef.
The first Antiguans were the Siboney.
Claim: It was commonly held that the first people who lived on Antigua were the Siboney.
False! The Siboney never existed on Antigua. We use the term Archaic People to describe these Stone Age settlers.
The peaceful Arawaks vs the Warring Caribs.
Claim: When the Europeans arrived in the Caribbean, they suggested that the Amerindians they met and recorded in their journals were two different peoples, the peaceful Arawaks and the warring Caribs. Even older Caribbean history textbooks would repeat this suggestion.
False! In fact, the true Arawak and Caribs lived side by side in the Guyanas and still do to this day.
The Caribs were cannibals.
Claim: Not only were the “Caribs” the warring type but, according to the early European arrivants in the Caribbean, they were also cannibals. Again, another claim that was repeated in older Caribbean history textbooks.
False! The need for the “Caribs” to be labelled as cannibals was linked with the need for the arriving Europeans obtaining permission for acquiring and exploiting their land.

Wadadli me come from! (I am from Wadadli!)
Claim: The actual Amerindian name for Antigua was Wadadli.
False! The name was Waladli. “Wadadli” became popularised thanks to a popular Antigua band, Wadadli Experience.

Bat’s Cave leads to Dominica.
Claim: Bat’s Cave (located in St. Paul’s) leads to Dominica and in the past, enslaved in Antigua used it as an escape route. So also did raiding “Carib” warriors, who carried off governor’s wives.
False! The depth of water between the islands means that the cave would have to be more than three thousand feet underground. So, definitely false. But what a story!
Photo courtesy HAS NEWSLETTER NO # 113
Columbus landed on Antigua.
Claim: Columbus landed on Antigua and Santa Maria Hill near Cedar Grove was named by him.
A lie about Columbus! The reality is that Columbus never landed on the island. On his second voyage in 1493, Columbus sighted Marie Gallant close to Guadeloupe and Dominica and from there headed north, naming many islands in the chain of Lesser Antilles—Santa Maria de Guadeloupe, Santa Maria de Montserrate, Santa Maria la Redonda. It was close to Redonda that Columbus saw Antigua on the horizon and named the island Santa Maria la Antigua. He continued sailing until he reached Hispaniola.

Nelson’s Dockyard was built by Admiral Horatio Nelson.
False! Nelson sailed into Antigua 80 years after the Dockyard was built. He was not here in wartime, but in time of peace. Nelson’s duty was to enforce trade regulations, that is, the Navigation Act. This made him very unpopular with the St. John’s merchants!
And, finally:
There is a Kingdom of Redonda, complete with a line of Kings, Coat of Arms, and Stamps.
True, in the fantasy world. But, entirely FALSE in the real world.

This legend was birthed as an early 20th-century publicity stunt in which M.P. Shield, fantasy fiction and adventure author claimed that his father was made King of the island by the colonial office and he himself was crowned King at the age of fifteen on the island of Redonda by the Bishop of Antigua.

The legend has survived the ages allowing for so-called succession of literary figures to the throne to this day as well as stories of “impostors” attempting to lay claim to the throne! The “throne” of the Kingdom of Redonda became vacant after Javier Marías, a Spanish literary figure who took the title as King Xavier, passed away in Madrid on September 11th, 2022.
Photo: The coronation of Michael Howorth in 2009 as King Michael the Grey.
Can you recall any other Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda legends/stories? Do share them or your thoughts on the legends in this post in the comment section!
This post borrows heavily from the Historical and Archaeological Society (HAS)– the National Museum of Antigua and Barbuda Newsletter No. 108 entry by Dr. Reginald Murphy (pgs. 7-8).