From ferocious warriors to miserable Indians: Transformation of the "Mosquitos" within the colonial and postcolonial discourse on the Mosquito Coast, 17th to 19th century

Abstract

The chapter focuses on the changing image, within the colonial Spanish and post-colonial Nicaraguan discourse, of the inhabitants of the so called Mosquito Coast in the eastern part of Nicaragua in the 17th to 19th century. Special interest is dedicated to the problem of the "mixed race" that only with difficulties was adjusted to the stereotype of the "Indian" and also the motive of the violence, one of the dominant characteristics of the "Mosquito".

Keywords

• Mosquito Coast
• colonial discourse
• postcolonial discourse
• war
• violence
• race
• 17th to 19th century