ACKLINS CROOKED ISLAND HISTORY (Source: www.geographia.com) These little tropical islands, approximately 386km (239 miles) southeast of Nassau, make up an undiscovered Bahamian frontier outpost. Columbus came this way looking for gold. Much later, Acklins Island, Crooked Island, and their surrounding cays became hide-outs for pirates who attacked vessels in the Crooked Island Passage (the narrow waterway Columbus sailed), which separates the two islands. Today a well-known landmark, the Crooked Island Passage Light, built in 1876, guides ships to a safe voyage through the slot. Also known as the Bird Rock Lighthouse, it is a popular nesting spot for ospreys, and the light still lures pilots and sailors to the Pittstown Point Landing Resort. A barrier reef begins near the lighthouse, stretching down off Acklins Island for about 40km (25 miles) to the southeast. Although Acklins Island and Crooked Island are separate, they are usually mentioned as a unit because of their proximity to one another. Together, the two islands form the shape of a boomerang. Crooked Island, the northern one, is 181 sq. km (71 sq. miles) in area, whereas Acklins Island, to the south, occupies 311 sq. km (121 sq. miles). Both islands, which have good white-sand beaches and offer fishing and scuba diving, are inhabited mainly by fishermen and farmers. In his controversial article in National Geographic in 1986, Joseph Judge identified Crooked Island as the site of Columbus's second island landing, the one he named Santa María de la Concepción. Estimates say that by the end of the 18th century, more than three dozen working plantations were on these islands, begun by Loyalists fleeing mainland North America in the wake of the Revolutionary War. At the peak plantation period, there could have been as many as 1,200 slaves laboring in the 3,000 "doomed" acres of cotton fields (which were later wiped out by a blight). The people who remained on the island survived not only by fishing and farming, but also, beginning in the mid-18th century, by stripping the Croton cascarilla shrub of its bark to produce the flavoring for Campari liquor. \\\ Acklins and Crooked Island are two of the four islands forming an atoll which hugs the beautiful shallow waters of the Bight of Acklins. Bordered by the nearly uninhabited Castle Island and Long Cay, they are as natural as they were when The Bahamas was first "discovered." Columbus reputedly sailed down the leeward side of the islands through the narrow Crooked Island Passage, which has ever since served as an important route for steam ships travelling from Europe to Central and South America. This seaway, referred to locally as 'the going through,' also earned these islands the notorious reputation as convenient bases for buccaneers and pirates, who attacked ships in these shallow waters.  The islands existed in virtual obscurity until 1783, when American Loyalists began to settle here. These former plantation owners brought slaves and money to start a short-lived cotton industry which, by the beginning of the 19th Century, had more than 40 plantations employing 1200 slaves. The population turned from the land to the bounties of The Bight, after cotton growing became uneconomical due to Emancipation and soil depletion. Diving for sponges became the economic cornerstone of these islands until the sponges were decimated by a fungus. The inhabitants now earn their living by fishing and simple farming.  Acklins One of the least known islands of The Bahamas, Acklins comprises the southern and southeastern part of the chain. The terrain is hilly and desolate, with unusual rock formations, and varied plant and animal life, including an occasional swamp turtle. Along its coastline are numerous hidden coves with extensive, beautiful beaches and a number of tiny, colorful, villages.   The island is so quiet that you can hear the tropical breezes blow and the natives say that you have to "make your own sunshine:" in other words, you are on your own. Bonefishing, deep-sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing are ideal activities.  Crooked Island Crooked Island (together with Long Cay) forms the northwest part of the atoll system. The deliciously sweet scent of native herbs and flowers inspired Columbus to call it "one of the fragrant islands." He christened the island "Isabella" after his queen and it was called "Samoete" by the Arawaks, but somehow, the more functionally descriptive Crooked Island is the name it is known by today.  Quiet and remote, the island's natural attributes are many. An abundance of bird life thrives on the cliffs and reefs around the islands and magnificent limestone caves hide secrets from the past. Coral gardens, shelves and reefs are a treat for divers and the deep creeks, tidal flats, and pools filled with game fish make it a sportman's delight. Spectacular, untouched, white sand beaches stretch for miles.  Colonel Hill, on the northeastern end, is the main town of Crooked Island; other towns include Cripple Hill, True Blue, French Wells and Gun Point. Albert Town, now classified as a ghost town, is the only village on Long Cay. Formerly known as Fortune Island, in more prosperous times it served as a transfer point for cargoes on ships sailing between Europe and the Americas.  Columbus is alleged to have come to the area looking for gold but the only "treasure" he found was the jasmine-like fragrance in the air. Acklins is rocky and steep. Crooked Island is mainly comprised of tidal flats and deep creeks. Population of the two is a very friendly 850+ and counting.