About the original inhabitants. The island was around 700 used by the Arawak Indians from South America that the island called Xamayca. The island was at that time the Chief in provinsie classified by. Stamhooft govern the country, some places that controlled their area itself. A time later end 15th century the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus who used a time as a private island, the Spaniards named the island Santiago. 1517 came From African slaves.  The Arawaks were exterminated by a combination of infectious diseases, slavery and war. The country was so since that time in Spanjaardse hands.