Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-08
CURACAO, a QUEER ISLAND.

Dependent Cpon Rain For the Water Sep.
piy-somc Odd Customs.
Curacao Is one OF the queerest little is
lands Of the Caribbean sea. It lies 90
miles north of Venezuela, is about 60
miles long and IL or II wide. and it has
population Of moro than $4,000.
There il no means of procuring fresh
water on the island except by saving
fainwatcr in reservoirs. A number of
wells have been bored under the super
vision OF the Dutch government, to which
1t belongs. but each ended in failure.
4 curious statement regarding these
borings is made by the inhabitants of
the island. They say that in each and
every case after certain depth was
reached the tools dropped out Of sight,
indicating that there is no solid founda-
ton to the island. The borings were
made IN low places and through hills.
and In about 90 different places, each
with the same ultimate result. A few
wells have been dug to lesser depth
ard brackish. unpleasant tasting water
is obtained from them, Git only for man.
ufacturing purposes.
The approach of the rainy season is
always nm Interesting time there. The
water in the reservoir is low at this
tine. and the natives eagerly await the
oppor:unit: to gather fresh supply.
Clothing Is neve. washed there in fresh
water. but Mt all hours of the day the
beach is alive with women beating the
clothes with clubs on the rocks.
Tho hnnx,c ,-.s. III l,.,.lt IN, sl,o H., .<,,
style, and Hrc mostly of stone, with tile
roofs. The streets are very narrow. in
some places so narrow shat 1t is possible
to shake hands with the occupant of a
room acr,.,s the street simply by leaning
ont of the window.
There is scarcity OF Young women in
the island. b,S; IN ovcrplenty of old and
wr:nkled DANES. 1t is said the young
women leave home as soon rs they are Of
,:iarriageable age and seek husbands in
Caracas, Venezuela, or some ether South
American city. Yet there are some OF
the pretticst girls there traveller ever
set eyes upon. They are the daughters
of Date: fathers AID Spanish mothers.
and the m:ngling os the two bloods has
produced q beautiful race, which is grow
ing quite numerous there.
Thrce-quarters Of the population IS OF
African descent. or mixed African. Span
ish. Dutch and Indian. A few Indians.
said TO be descendants of the CARDS. are
still to be found on the island living in
huts of straw.
Their sole business in these DAYS seems
to he the pet,dling of lottery tickets. Ev-
erybody invests in the lottery there, and
as there are drawings each day the ped
ding II tickets forms quite a paying
business.
Some of the Africans there ere mag
nificently formed. especially those en-
ploycd along ;he lagoon IN loading and
unloading steamers ana ships. They are
nj home in the water and will dive un-
der :: steamer FOR a real or 10 cent
piece.
OF late years they arc forced to Wear
suits while sporting in the lagoon rear
the settlements. bat as the lagoon ex-
tends in tie center os the island several
miles each way they my bc seen every
evening making their WHY in punts Ia n
point beyond ob.;crvati0a where tLey
can enjoy themselves untrammeled by
clothing.
The Maca prucn. or monkey plum. is
the favoritc fruit. and ihc parrot is the
favori;e bird. For 81 ~ Young parrot
that can talk in Spanish may ls pur-
chased. and q knocking bird c..;, be had
foT 30 cents.
None of the liIucr which obtains its
name from the island is made there now.
The Dutch have taken hold Of tine manu.
tacturc OF the liquor and lave trans
fcr-ed the business TO HolNnI.-New
York Herald.