the battle of anguilla had several interesting cultural effects on the island. rendezvous was named because it was the site where the french held their "rendezvous" for the invasion. lead sinker balls are referred to locally as "bullets" after the desperate attempts of the besieged militia. however, the main effect was a result of the devastation inflicted on the plantations, in addition to the island's naturally arid climate and hurricanes doomed large scale agricultural efforts. by 1821, plantations were almost totally eliminated. despite this, anguillian subsistence farmers managed to grow corn, pigeon peas and other staples. the surplus of especially good yields was shipped overseas. however, as a result of the failure to maintain effectively the only profitable economy it could as a british colony it fell into poverty. twice, in 1832 and 1843, the governor of the leeward islands recommended a complete evacuation of the island and resettlement of the residents to guyana and trinidad. with no other alternative, the anguillian people turned to maritime occupations - fishermen, shipwrights, riggers and traders.