The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-12-07
CURACAO a QUEER ISLAND.
Dependents Upon Rain For the Water surN
ply--some Odd Customs.

Dependents Upon Rain For the Water surA
pay--some Odd Customs.
Curacao Is one of the queerest little IL
lands OF the Caribbean sea. It lies 90
miles north OF Venezuela, is about so
miles long and ~ or IA wide. and it has
q population of more than $4,000.
There is no means of procuring fresh
water on the island except by saving
rainwater in reservoirs. A number or
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 Ut
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 nc solid founda-
ton to the island. The borings were
made in low places and through hills,
and in about 80 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 man.
ufacturing purposes.
The approach Of the rainy season is
always al 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
some places so narrow thatit is possible
to shake hands with the occupant Of a
room across the street simply by leaning
out Of the window.
There is q 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
manageable age and seek husbands in
Caracas, Venezuela, or some other South
American city. Yet 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
~ DTOuuC6u q DCddttlu A0SCs WLASn 40 64oW-
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.
nifcently formed, especially those EN-.
ployed along the lagoon in loading and
unloading steamers and ships. They arr
at home i'm the water and will dive un
der a steamer for a s'real" or 10 CEN
piece.
, OF late years they are forced to weal
suits while sporting in the lagoon nea
the settlements, but as the lagoon ex
tends in the center of the island severa
miles each way they may be seen ever,
evening making their way in punts to
! point beyond observation where the,
can enjoy themselves untrammeled b.
/ clothing.
! The Maca pruen, or monkey plum, !
/ the favorite fruit, and the parrot is tn
! favorite bird. For 81 a young parro
that can talk in Spanish may be pul
chased, and a hooking bird can be ha
for so cents.
! None of the liquor which obtains il
! name from the island is made there nov
! The Dutch have taken hold Of the mani
facture of the liquor and have trans
i ferred the business to Holland.-Ne'
York Herald.