The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-04
CURACAO, A QUEER ISLAND.
Dependent Upon Rain For the Water Sup.
pIy-Some Odd Customs.

pIy-Some Odd Customs.
Curacao is one of the queerest little is
lands of the Caribbean sea. 1t lies so
miles north of Venezuela, is about 60
miles long and II or IA wide, and it has
a population of more than so ,000
There is no means of procuring fresh
water ON the island except by saving
rainwater in reserv oirs. 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 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 30 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 an interesting time there. The
water in the reservoir is low at this
time, and the natives eagerly await the
opportunity to gather 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 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 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
produced 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
nifcently formed, especially those en-
ployed along the lagoon in loading and
unloading steamers and ships. They are
at home in the water and will dive I'M
der 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 several
miles each way they may be seen every
evening making their way in punts to
point beyond observation where they
can enjoy themselves untrammeled by
clothing.
The Maca pruen, Or monkey plum, is
the favorite fruit, and the parrot is the
fayorite bird. For 81 young parrot
that can talk in Spanish may be pur-
chased, and knocking bird can be had
for 80 cents:
None of the liquor which obtains its
name from the island is made there now.
The Dutch have taken hold of the manu-
facture of the liquor and have trans
ferred the business to Holland.-New
York Herald.