Hammock History
Hamaca - Spanish
Duyan - Cebuano -
Philippines
Ang Roeung, អ្ង្រឹង - Khmer -
Cambodia
เปลญวน - Thailand
The Hammock is one
of my favorite pieces of equipment for world travel. I always have a quality
hammock and tarp in my bag when I hit the road. Having a hammock and tarp with
me gives me a place to sleep, or build a base camp. Even when making short
hitch hiking trips from the Jack Mountain field school to Presque Isle Maine, I
had my hammock and tarp.
They served me well on a few occasions where I was
unable to get a ride. Once while on the road between Ashland, Maine and Presque
Isle , I was unable to get a ride. It was raining, I was soaked, and it was
getting dark. I decided to head to a copse of trees and set up my hammock.
I
busted into the woods and located 2 likely looking trees took out my hatchet
and cut off the dead branches up to the height I wanted to set my tarp. I hung
the tarp , then the hammock . Next I threw the only dry clothes I had with me
(Cut off carhartt shorts , a hoody, and
some smartwool socks) along with a large piece of parachute cloth I use as a
"blanket". I also threw in my Nalgene bottle of water and some trail
munchies.
Standing there in
the waning light, soaked to the bone, it was cold and depressing. The thought
of spending the next 12+ hours in a hammock under a tarp in the cold was not
appealing. So, I stripped off my soaked clothes and hung them to drip
"dry" by morning, then dried myself off as best as I could with a
spare bandana. I was shivering as I pulled on the shorts, and hoody.
I crawled in ,
wrapped myself in the parachute cloth , ate my trail munchies and sipped water.
It was going to be a long cold night. I tried to get my mind right by thinking
about warm tropical climates, long flowing hair, and silk teddy’s bulging from
their fleshy cargo.........I was so glad that I had my hammock and tarp with
me, otherwise id be walking along the road all night in the dark and rain and
cold.
Where did the
Hammock Originate? I have seen hammocks all over the world. I had 2 set up at
my house in Cambodia. And later on at my place in Mae Sai, Thailand. I have
slept in a Hammock at the Aeta Village in the Philippines, and all over central
and South America. I began to wonder how they were simultaneously in Asia, the
south pacific and Latin America. Did the Spanish or Portuguese introduce them
to Asia or were they introduced to Latin America and elsewhere...It is a good
question.
All Central and South American countries have
an ancient history associated with hammocks. It is generally accepted that the
origins of the hammock began approximately 1000 years ago in Central America by
the Mayan Indians. They designed a
web-like hammock which is still in use today and considered to be the most
ingenious and comfortable of all hammocks.
Some of the Early
hammocks were made from the bark from the hamack tree, which is where the word
“hammock” comes from. Hammocks are beds used to guard against animal and bug
bites. Because the hammocks were suspended above the ground, inhabitants were
protected from harmful creatures that carried diseases.
Because of the
numerous trade routes used by the Indians of Latin America, the hammock
naturally found its way to many other Indians. Hammocks were soon being made
from indigenous fabrics and materials which resulted in a many types, which
have evolved to the classic cloth/fabric hammock, typical of Brazil, and cord and
rope hammocks similar to today's styles.
Nearly all sources
mention Christopher Columbus in the discovery of the hammock. However, the
hammock actually dates back more than 1,000 years ago to Central America, far
before Columbus was alive. As mentioned above, the hammock was used as a form
of protection against harmful creatures on the ground. Christopher Columbus was
introduced to the hamaca (hammock) during his travels at the end of the 15th
Century by the Taino Indians, a Haitian tribe, in which he brought a variety of
hammocks to Europe where they gained appeal. During this time, European weavers
began crafting hammocks out of cotton, canvas, and other cloths, as well as
sending these materials to weave hammocks in the New World.
By the mid-16th century
in many parts of the world, the hammock was used as an alternative to the
traditional bed. The U.S. military even turned to hammocks for sleeping when
away from home. Hammocks quickly gained widespread appeal by both the wealthy
and the underprivileged, and by the end of the 19th century, the first mass
producer of hammocks opened in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina.
Today, we have
expanded on the traditional hammock with improvements to design, materials, and
comfort. Some hammocks are still used for insect protection with the addition
of enclosed nets, and some are simply used as a luxurious relaxation portal.
Hammocks today represent a luxury for many, but it can’t be taken for granted
that the hammock is one of the oldest pieces of furniture in the history of
mankind.
See you on the trail!
Tomahawk -