THE PIRATE MUNDACA
THE PIRATE MUNDACA
One of the most colorful figures of Isla Mujeres was Fermin Mundaca de Marechaga, a pirate and slave trader. In 1860, when the British Navy campaign against slavery made life on the high seas uncomfortable, he decided to retire and choose Isla Mujeres, an important port because of its shelter and salt, a vital necesity for food preservation.
He felt this would provide him with the companionship of men like himself falling in love with a 18-year old local girl know locally as "La Trigueña" or The Brunette.
Despite the construction of a beautiful estate (or hacienda) surrounded by magnificent gardens filled with exotic plans and entered by gates carved with her name, his suit was unsuccessful. "La Trigueña" married a young islander and while she bore him child after child, Mundaca slowly went mad.
Mundaca died in the city of Merida, and is buried there. Meanwhile in the Isla Mujeres cementery, his gravestone (which he carved) is marked with the symbols of the pirate trade, the skull and cross-bones, and bears the inscription "as you are, I was. As I am, you will be".Although Mundaca enjoyed his false reputation as a pirate, his wealth was derived from the human cargoes he transported from Africa to Cuba to labor and die in the sugar cane fields.
This grandiose example of "Love´s labor lost" is well worth a visit. It is located between the town and Garrafon Beach. Transportation is necessary to get to the entrance of the Hacienda Mundaca.
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