The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-12-12
CURACAO, A OU-ER ISLAND.

~Sp@oueht Nppu Sdslu - tue W AteF Sun.
ply-sOme Odd Customs.
Curacao is of the queerest little is
lands of the Caribbean sea. 1t hes 60
miles north Of Venezuela, is about GO
miles long and lo or IA wide, and it has
a population Of more than 81 1000.
There is no means Of procuring fresh
water on the island except by saving
rainwater 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.
A curious statement regarding these
borings is made by the inhabitants of
the island. They say that in each and
every case after a certain depth was
reached the tools dropped out Of sight,
indicating that there is no solid founda-
ton to tine island. The borings were
made in low places and through hills.
end in about 30 different places, each
with the same ultimate result. A few
wells have been dug to a lesser depth
and bracL.sh. unpleasant tasting water
is obtained from them, fit only for man.
u%facturing purposes.
The approach of the rainy season is
always an interesting time there. The
water in the reservoir is low at this
time. and the natives eagerly await the
opportunity to gather a fresh supply.
Clothing is never washed there in fresh
water, but at all hours of the day the
beach is alive with women beating the
clothes with clubs on the rocks.
The houses are all built in the Dutch
style, and are mostly of stone, with tile
roofs. The streets are very narrow, in
som places so narrow that it is possible
to shake hands with the occupant of a
room across the street simply by leaning
out of the window.
There is a scarcity of young women in
the island, but an overplenty of old and
wrinkled DANES. 1t is said the young
women leave home as soon as they are of |
marriageable age and seek husbands in
Caracas, Venezuela, or some other South |
American city. Vet there are some of
the prettiest girls there a Traveller ever
set eyes upon. They are the daughters
of Dutch fathers and Spanish mothers.
and the mingling of the two bloods has
produced a beautiful race. which is grow
ing quite numerous there.
Three-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 Caribs. are
still to be found on the island living in
huts of straw.
Their sole business in these days seems
to be the peddling of lottery tickets. Ev-
erybody invests in the lottery there, and
as there are drawings each day the ped
ding of tickets forms quite a paying
business.
Some of the Africans there are mag
nificently formed. especially those en-
ployed along the lagoon in loading and
unloading steamers and ships. They are
ut home in the water end will dive un.
der a steamer for a ''real'' or 10 cent
piece.
Of late years they are forced to wear
suits while sporting in the lagoon near
settlements, but as the lagoon ex.
tend IN the center of the island several
miles EACH way they may be seen every,
evening making their way in punts to a
point beyond observation where they
can enjoy themselves untrammeled by
The Maca pruen, or monkey plum, is
the favorite fruit, and the parrot is the
bird. For 81 . young parrot
that can talk in Spanish may he pur- {
chased. and y mocking bird can be had
Tor SO cents.
None Of the liquor which obtains it's
name from the island is made there now. !
The Dutch have taken hold of the manu-
of the liquor and have trans
the business to Holland.-New
York Herald. |.