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In 800 A.D., The Arawak Indians were the first to settle on this island. They were then replaced by the aggressive, cannibalistic Carib Indians, who gave it the name ‘Soualiga’ or ‘Island of Salt’, after its main mineral deposit.
During Columbus’ second voyage in 1493, he sighted the island and claimed it for Spain. The date was November 11,the feast of St. Martin, thus giving the island its name. The Spanish never settled on the island, but around 1630, the Dutch and French established small settlements here. The Spanish saw this as a threat and expelled both the French and Dutch from the island. These 2 nations soon joined forces to repel the Spanish, and in 1648, signed an accord in agreement to divide the island. Although they agreed to this co-habitation, the border was the subject of many disputes but was finally fixed in 1815.
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