Miskito Indian History   

     The Miskito Indians have inhabited the North Atlantic territory of Nicaragua since before recorded history. The entire territory was colonized by England. Their territory covers most of the Caribbean coast of Honduras and Nicaragua and also is known as the Mosquito Coast.  They are an indigenous people in Central America. While many of the Miskitos speak Spanish and Creole English, they have their own language, Miskit. Over time, the Miskitos have intermarried with blacks (escaped slaves). There are very few, if any, pure-blooded Miskitos. But what tends to affect this group most negatively is their lack of education.   Most Miskitos in remote areas are illiterate. Those who live in the larger towns or villages have access to a basic third or fourth-grade education. There are very few college-educated Miskitos. Extreme poverty and lack of economic opportunities are the main reasons most of the Miskitos that live in cities only get two or three years of formal education.
    There are several reasons for this economic situation, but the many stem from the group’s highly structured society. Historically, there was a king whom shared the power with a governor and general. By 1750, the king also shared his power with an admiral. Information about the Miskito kings is obscure as many of them were semi-mythical figures.
    The first Spanish settlers arrived in 1787, but the Miskitos continued to dominate the area. The Miskito territory is very inaccessible and was therefore affected little by the Spanish conquest of the era. The political structure of the Miskitos allowed them to keep their independence through the Spanish rule and the Federation of Central American States. The Miskito people and their territory were absorbed into Nicaragua in 1894. 
    Due to the economic interest of the British in Central America and in particular Belize (British Honduras), the Miskitos obtained guns and other modern weapons. After Nicaragua declared its independence in 1821, Miskito and Zambo (mix of Miskito Indians and blacks) raiders started to attack Spanish settlements in Honduras to rescue enslaved Miskitos before they were shipped to Europe. The Miskitos also enslaved women from other tribes. 
    With the allowance of polygamy and the added number of enslaved women, the Miskito population boomed. For many years, this group considered themselves superior to others in the country. Maybe it is for that reason, or maybe it’s due to other circumstance, but the Miskitos receive very little aid from the central government in Nicaragua today.