The island is inhabited by some 8,000 people, amongst which there is a steadily growing community of expatriates from such countries as Great-Britain, America, France, Germany Holland & Switzerland to name but a few. Some have set up in business, whilst others have simply fallen in love with the island and have made it their home, Carriacou is well know by the international yachting fraternity, and some of those who have visited the island just decided to stay. The official language spoken is English, however, Creole-English (a colourful mixture of African, English and French.) is widely spoken. The islands where discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 on his third voyage. They were still inhabited by the indigenous Carib Indians, and was first colonized by British merchants in 1609.These islands where fought over by the British and French, changing hands on more than one occasion, before final cession to the British in 1763. Visitors are welcome to visit the island's museum in Hillsborough where they can view artifacts from archeological digs around the island.