| History
In the first century
B.B.. Pliny referred to the island in the following terms: "... at a short distance
the island of Canaria was visible, so called on account of the multitude of unusually
large-sized dogs, two of which were taken to Juba. Remains of buildings are to be found
there. It abounds all manner of fruit and fowl. The island of Canaria is full of
date-bearing palms and cone-bearings pine forests. Honey exists in great quantity and
along the shores of its streams, papyrus and Silurian fish flourish".
Later, Niccoloso da Recco describe the aborigines like this: "...(they are) of handsome figure, their golden blonde hair is waist-lenght, covering their backs. The island from where they have been brought is called Canaria... They are strong, quite vigorous and intelligent..." The aboriginal name of the island was Tamarán, which means "land of the brave men". In ancient times it was also known as Paradise of the Birds and then as Canaria, the name that was later applied to the whole archipielago. The island was divided into ten tribes or cantons, each ruled by a chief who was assisted in political affairs and warfare by the guayres, and in religious matters by the faycán. Once there were lived in canton of Agáldar a beautiful young woman called Andamana. She was an intelligent woman and the ruler of canton, Guinidafe, fell love with her and she became his wife. Displaying her diplomatic skills and her bravery in war, she managed to unite the ten cantons into one. Out of this marriage stems the dinasty of the Guanartemes of Gran Canaria who governed the island until its incorporation into the Crown of Castle. |