HAMMOCK

HAMMOCK

Ever come to a word that perks your mind? In the Cape Gazette

of late, the word hammock popped out from an article about a resort & golf course in some far off place. Perked my mind. So here is a Hammock

story I have added to my delmarhistory.blogspot.com blog for my archives.

A hammock, Spanish hamaca, from the Taino Arawak Indian tribe of the

West Indies. A sling of rope net that suspends between two points, used

as a swing, sleeping and such. Central and South American natives were

known to have developed them for sleeping to keep the sleeper away from

snakes, insects and such. The Spanish colonist were first to take notice of

them for comfortable sleeping. Sailors took to them as they provided comfort in tight spaces aboard ships with little unused space. Today they are seen as a symbol of leisure and relaxation.

The early hammocks were usually made from the sisal agave 'rope' found

in South America.

The origin of a hammock in America is somewhat obscure with many odd

claims as to who did what.

1590 the Royal Navy used hammocks aboard ship and placed anyplace that was found available empty, on deck, below deck, fore and aft, wherever they were free to swing with the ships pitching and rolling

motions. When a sleeper in in a hammock he is in like a cocoon, suitably

packed and less apt to fall out, roll off deck and drown while still asleep.

Then too, a hammock was easy to roll up for storage.

One can lie in a hammock longwise or across it, whichever provides the most room and support to offer those with back or joint pain relief.

An ecology hammock is a term used for stands of trees that form an island

usually found on elevated areas in wetlands . The history of the etymology

hammock is obscure, it was once a hummock. Early English nautical

men called a tree covered island on the horizon a Hammock as early as

1550's.

My source, Wikipedia, has much more to tell about ecology hammock's if

you are interested in continuing your hammock education.