User:R45/sandbox/Galera Point

Galera Point

Galera Point is the easternmost point in Trinidad, in the island's far northeast. It is in the county of St David and is very close to the town of Toco.

Etymology

According to historian Michael Anthony, the Galera name was derived from geographical/cartographical errors in the naming of the south-eastern point of Trinidad, Galeota Point. Christopher Columbus, after naming Trinidad on July 31, 1498 during his Third Voyage, named the south=eastern point Cabo de la Galea (which was a mistake for Cabo de la Galera, Spanish for Galley Cape). That point, named due to its similar appearance to the galley of a ship, was subsequently renamed Galeota Point.

Early history

In 1699, during a rebellion of Amerindian people of the San Francisco de los Arenales Spanish mission (see Arena Massacre), several Amerindians fled Spanish capture to Galera Point. Fearing capture by the Spanish, several Amerindians committed suicide by jumping to their deaths off Galera Point.

Notes and references

References

• Gužauskytė, Evelina (2014). Christopher Columbus's Naming in the 'diarios' of the Four Voyages (1492-1504): A Discourse of Negotiation. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9781442647466.
• Richard Henry, Major (1870). Select Letters of Christopher Columbus: With Other Original Documents, Relating to His Four Voyages to the New World. Hakluyt society.