Did You Know - The word “hammock” was derived from the Taino word hamaka. In 1535, European chronicler Gonzalo Oviedo noted that the hammocks he observed were well-woven and made from good quality cotton fabrics. The hammaka could function as a bed, chair, sack, or even a fishing net. The hammock is also credited for changing the 16th maritime industry as sailors began to adopt these ingenious sling-type beds for use during their voyages. Today, hammocks are part of a multi-million dollar industry and have become such a part of popular culture that they have even been used by American astronauts in the Apollo program. – - UCTP Taino News © 2008
