Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra facts for kids
Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra (1745–1813) was a Benedictine monk and a very important historian. He was born in Estadilla, Spain. He was the first person to write a detailed history of Puerto Rico. His writings covered Puerto Rico's past, its people, and its unique culture.
Contents
Exploring Puerto Rico's Past
Fray Íñigo Abbad y Lasierra arrived in Puerto Rico in 1771. He was 26 years old at the time. He came as a special assistant and secretary to the bishop of Puerto Rico, Manuel Jiménez Pérez.
Travels and Discoveries
From 1772 to 1778, Fray Abbad traveled all over Puerto Rico. He visited many towns as part of his church duties. He also traveled with Bishop Jiménez Pérez to other places. These included Cumaná, Isla Margarita, New Barcelona, the Orinoco River, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
During these trips, he kept a detailed diary. He called it Viage a la América, which means "Voyage to America". This diary was later published in 1974.
Writing Puerto Rico's History
While living in Puerto Rico, Fray Abbad carefully watched and wrote down everyday life. Ten years after he left the island, he published a major book in 1788. Its full title was Historia geográfica, civil y natural de la isla de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico. This means "Geographic, civil and natural history of the island of Saint John the Baptist of Puerto Rico".
His book was the first complete history of Puerto Rico. It covered the years from 1493 to 1783. He described many parts of Puerto Rican life in great detail.
What His Book Covered
Fray Abbad's book talked about many interesting things. He wrote about the strong defenses of San Juan. He also described the customs of the Taíno people, who were the original inhabitants.
He included information about Puerto Rican history, society, and even the clothes people wore. He also wrote about the island's plants and animals. He even discussed the island's economy and the personality of its people.
Fray Abbad also suggested ways to improve Puerto Rico. He thought there should be more free trade. He also wanted to see more support for agriculture and other industries.
Music and Other Writings
Fray Abbad's writings include the earliest known mention of the güiro. This is a musical instrument used in traditional Puerto Rican music. He described the güiro as an instrument that helped people dance. Other instruments often used were maracas, tambourines, and guitars.
In 1785, Fray Abbad also wrote Relación de la Florida. This book was about Spain's presence in Florida. It covered the time from its discovery by Juan Ponce de León to when French and British colonies were set up there.
See also
