The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-10
CURACAO, A QUEER ISLAND.
Dependent Upon Rain for the Water sup
ply-some Odd Customs


Curacao is one of the queerest little
islands of the Caribbean sea. 1t lies 60
miles long and Il or IA wide. and 1t
has a population of more than 10000.
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 it 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 slght,
indicating that there is no solid foun-
dalton to the island The borings were
made in low places and through nils,
and in about thirty different places,
each with the same ultimate result.
A few wells have been dug to a lesser
depth and brackish, unpleasant tasting
water is obtained from them, fit only
for manufacturing 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 get 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 built in the Dutch
lstyle, and are mostly Of stone, with
tile roofs. The streets are very mar
row, in some places so narrow that 1t
| is possible to shake hands with the
occupant of room across the street
simply by leaning out of the window
There is a scarcity of young women
in the island, but an overpIenty OF ola
and wrinkled danes. 1t is said the
young women leave home as soon as
they are of a marriageaple age and
seek husbands in Caracas, Venezuela,
or some other South american city.
Yet there are some or the prettiesr
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 growing quite numerous there.
Three-quarters Of the population is
of African descent, or mixed African
Spanish, Dutch and Indian. A few
Indians, said to be descendants of the
CARDS. are still to be found on the is-
land living in huts of straw.
| Their sole business these days seems
to be the peddling of lottery tickets
Everybody invests in the lottery there
and as there are drawings each day
the peddling of tickets forms quite a
paying business.
Some of the Africans there are mag
nif1ciently formed, especially those en-
ployed along the lagoon in loading
and unloading ships. They are al
home in the water and will dive under
a steamer for real or 10 cent
piece
OF late years they are forced to wear
suits while sporting in the lagoon near
the settlements. but as the lagoon ex-
| tends in the center of the island sew
eral miles each way they may be seen
every evening making their way in
punts to a point beyond observation
where they can enjoy themselves un-
! trammeled by clothing.
! The Maca pruen, of Monkey plum
is the favorite fruit, and the parrot is
the favorite bird. For 81 young par
rot that can talk in Spanish may be
purchased, and a hooking bird can be
had for so cents.
None of the liquor which obtains its
name from the island is made thers
now. The Dutch have taken hold OF
| the manufacture of the liquor and
| have transferred the business to Hol.
lland-NeW York Herald