In Depth in Raista & Belen

The Miskito

The origins of the Miskito culture are not entirely clear. Most have come to agree that the dark-skinned group is a mix of escaped slaves, pirates, and an unidentified indigenous group. Today, they inhabit much of the Mosquito Coast, as well as parts of Olancho and Nicaragua. They survive on subsistence farming, lobster diving, fishing, and sailing. Although some may claim otherwise, the Miskito culture was not named after the abundance of mosquitoes in the region, but rather from the word musket, which the British trained the group to use to help push the Spanish out of the region. The British influence is undeniable. About a quarter of their language derives from English, such as the word "kitchen," the days of the week, and the charming phrase "think you," as well as surnames such as Bodden, Wood, and Denson.