Evening star., 1898-09-17
Wllhelmina Has Control Over Half
a Dozen Thrifty Colonies.
CLEAN, BUSY And WELL GOVERNED
The Dutch Settlers Home-L owing
and Happy.
ALL TONG UES SPOKE N

Copyright. 1S9S by the International Literary and
News ServfceD
Just at the time when the young King
of Spain is bidding farewell forever to the
islands of the West Indies which have been
held by his family for four centuries, the
young Queen of Holland, upon her corona
ton two weeks ago, has come into posses
sion of half a dozen little islands that COM
prise the Dutch territory in the West In
dies 1t is a new example OF the old law
of the survival of the fittest. Spain's great
possessions have dwindled and declined,
while little Hollands miniature colonies
have thriven and grown rich and pros
porous.
One may experience some difficulty In
locating these Dutch islands on any ordi-
nary map of the West Indies, but If one
will hug the shore of South America with
a magnifying glass, so to speak, one may
be rewarded by discovering about midway
on the northern coast Il little group OF
islands, the most westerly of which, Oruba,
lies just off the coast at the eastern en-
trance to the Gulf of Maracaypo, not more
than twenty miles from and.
Curacao, another island, and the largest
of the group, lies about a hundred miles
east of Oruba and ninety miles north Oh
the Venezuelan shore. At what appears to
be an equal distance still further to the
east is the Island of Buen Ayre, or Bon
aire, it is sometimes written on the
maps Diligent search failed to discover
ST. Eustatius st. Martin Saba, the is
lands that complete the group Together
these latter islands only comprise an area
of thirty or forty square miles, which may
account for the Indifference of the geog-
rapher.
Curacao has an area of 212 square miles
and a population estimated to reach the
very respectable figure of 10000 souls. IL
is described as one of the cleanest and
uuainteSt little islands in the world. Here
at the town of Wilhelmstadt the Dutch
governor has his residence, solemn-look-
ing old mansion fronting upon the Shatte-
gat, lagoon, that forms the harbor.
Here he lives in considerable state being
permitted a few soldiers, who act as or
namental guards when not engaged in pre-
siding over some equally ornamental and
useless old cannon.
Neat Spots of the Indies.
The streets and houses are thoroughly
Dutch, the former narrow and clean, the
latter thick walled and square, tile rooted
ard painted green or yellow Wilhelmstadt
is one of the neatest cities in the West In
cies. The public buildings are old but very
handsome. The harbor is excellent There
are some fortifications which command its
approaches, but these are not believed to
be very formidable.
Wilhelmstadt is busy port, and the mer-
chants of the town conduct an extensive
trade. The home government receives an
annual revenue of $500 900, derived from
the shipment of phosphates alone. The
island is very rich in these deposits. To-
bacco, sugar, indigo, corn, figs, oranges and
citron are raised and exported. Salt from
the marshes is obtained in considerable
quantities. The port is open to traders of
all nationalities, no duties are charged and
it is believed that ships load and unload
contraband goods at its wharves, from
whence they carried to various ports.
In olden times the merchants of the town
grew rich by smuggling. There is reason
to believe that the contraband trade is still
carried on.
As there are no wells springs upon the
island, the inhabitants entirely depend
ent upon the rainfall, which is gathered
into large cisterns and reservoirs. Some
times it is found necessary to import bar
rels of water from the Venezuelan coast
or TO distil 1t.
From the sea the appearance of the is
land is somewhat disappointing. There is
nothing of the tropical beauty one might
naturally expect. Few trees grow upon the
f1at-topped hills. The only charm is in
the quaint Dutch villages which nestle in
the valleys of the rocky coast
A large proportion Of the inhabitants are
negroes. The Dutch settlers are however
a thrifty, home-loving and happy people.
They have transported to this little island
many Of the sterling qualities that have
gone to the making of Hollands honorable
place among nations.
Refugees and Pirates
The history of Curacao is not without in
terest. England, Spain and Holland have
each held it for a time, and it's waters
have been infested by the buccaneers and
pirates who sailed their dreaded ships upon
the Caribbean sea. 1t has been the refuge
of political fugitives for a century past
II was here that Bolivar, the hero of
South American independence came after
the failure of his first attempt to free Ven
Ia Srll tStn
a native of Venezuela, born in 1888 of q
rich and aristocratc family and educated
IN Spain and France. In the latter country
he obtained a glimpse of the close of the
French revolution. In 1909 ne passed
through the United States on his way home
from a second visit to Europe. lie was
much impressed by American institutions
After taking part in the Intellectual rebel
lion of 1910 and 1911, Bolivar and other
revolutionists were forced to fly from Ven
eZuela. 1t was at this time that Curacao
which he reached in safety served as a
safe retreat for the distinguished fugitive
Bolivar left Curacao in September 1872 10
begin again the work of revolution which
resulted in the freedom of South America
Bolivia is named for him. He seems to
have been patriot of the truest type and
willingly sacrificed his own wealth and in
terest to the cause he so earnestly es-
roused. Although he absolutely controlled
the revenues of Colombia, Peru and Bo-
livia. he never enriched himself On the
fortune in the cause Of freedom
AT a later time General Santa Anna also
resided in Curacao, during a temporary
exile from Mexico. Whether this was be-
fore after he became president of Mex-
leo does not appear. He was banished from
Mexico on several occasions. but he always
managed to return and in some measure at
least to retrieve his fortunes
Many other famous men have sought
SAFETY IN the island, and remained till rev.
oiutions passed, until the time was ripe
TO return and raise the banner of revolt
Natives Speak English.
Spanish is the language spoken In Cura-
Gao, but owirg to the coming and going of
| American sailors, English is understood by
| many of the natives
Buen Aver and Oruba are chiefly inter-
esting for the fine cattle raised upon their
| fertile slopes. Buen Aver has an area of
| one hundred and twenty-nine square miles,
and a population of five six thousand
| Oruba has an area of only siXty-two square
| miles, but its population is larger than that
| of Buen Aver. Only the southern part of
| the Island OF st. Martin belongs to Holland,
| twenty square miles belong to France,