The island was used as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s and also functioned as a coral mine. There are 15 holiday cottages in the northwest of the island as well as a tennis court, swimming pool, and library and the old European Bungalow has been turned into a restaurant named after Mathews. The old prison remains standing, providing shelter for some of the giant tortoises found on the island and the cells can be visited.