The Spaniards founded a mission to Christianize the natives; a friar there, Francisco Pareja, studied their language and left in his writings most of what we know about it. Under Zephaniah Kingsley, who farmed much of the island from 1814 to 1836, it was a slave training and trading center.
The Spaniards established a mission to convert the indigenous population; a friar there, Francisco Pareja, studied their language and documented most of what we know about it. Under Zephaniah Kingsley, who farmed much of the island from 1814 to 1836, it served as a center for training and trading slaves.