The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-06-28
THE ISLAND or CURACAO
a Queer Plnc~, the Natives oHb8Whloh
SI Have Odd CuseOms. t%f

Curacao Is one of the queerest little
islands of The Caribbean sen, says the
N. Y. Heruld. 1t lies sixty miles north
of Venezuela is about sixty miles long.
and twelve or fourteen wide. and it
has a population of more than so, 900.
! There's no means of procuring fresh
water on the island except BY saving
rain water in reservoirs. A mum Der
of wells have been bored under the
supervision 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 certain depth was
reached the tools dropped out Of sight,
indicating that there was no solid
foundation TO the island. The borinys
were made IN low places and through
hills. and in about thirtys]diherent
places, each with the same ultimate
result. A few wells have enstlug to
a lesser depth, and brackish, unpleas-
ant water is obtained from them, tit
only for manufacturing purposes.
gT 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 ut all hours of tine
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 mar
row, in some places 50 narrow that it |
is possible to shake hands with ths &C.
cupant of a room across the street
simply by leaning out the window.
I There is a scarcity of young women
in the island, but an overplenty of old
and wrinkled danes. It 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 traveller ever set eyes upon.
They are the daughters of Dutch faith
ers aud Spanish mothers, and the
of the two bloods has pro-
duced beautiful race which is grow.
|
Three-quarters of the population is
of African descent, or mixed African,
Spanish, Dutch, and Indian. A few
Indians, said to be descendants of tue
Caribs, are still to be found on the
island, living in huts of straw.
Their sole business in these 4days
seems to he the peddling of lottery
'ickets. Every body invests in the lot
'ery there, and as there are drawings
zach day the peddling of tickets forms
1uite paying business.
Some of the Africans there are mag
aiicently formed. especially those en- :
'loyed along the lagoon in loading and
Unloading steamers and ships. They Z
Ire at home on the water and will dive
lnder u steamer for q "real" OF 1O-cent ,
piece.
OF late years they are forced to wear
uits while sporting in the lagoon near
he settlements, but as the lagoon ex-
ends in the center of the island sever
il miles each way they may be seen
very evening making their way in
cunts to point beyond observation,
where they can enjoy themselves un- :
by clothing. ..,..>,. r, ~ ID,
me Maca pruen, or monkey plum,ls
he favorite fruit and the parrot is the
avorite bird. For 81 young bird
hat can talk in Spanish may be pur-
based and a hooking bird can he had (
Or 50 cents.
None of the liquor which obtains its =
anne from the island is made there
ow. The Dutch have taken hold of
he manufacture of the. liquor and
ave transferred the business to Hol-
md. 4