Page 15 - AT

A15
LOCAL Tuesday 5 November 2019

The Watapana tree Episode XLII

Continued from page 14

Aruba produced a considerable part
of the total Watapana-crops. The prin-
cipal market was Hamburg in Germa-
ny. Divi Divi was used at the tanneries
on the Elbe River for the preparation of
leather that was manufactured into the
greased leather boots of East-European
farmers. However, Aruba never shipped
direct, everything went via Curacao. In
Europe Divi Divi was much in demand
and tannin at some places sold for sixty
to eighty guilders a ton. One of the best
years was 1911, when Aruba exported
303.000 kilos, Curacao 652.000 and Bo-
naire 1.102.000 kilos.

The Watapana meanwhile has be-
come the official tree of Aruba and
was so decreed by the Aruba Parlia-
ment. However many times the not en-
forced laws concerning protection and
conservation of natural resources and
other heritages, gives the false impres-
sion that we do not care to conserve.
The economy that this tree once pro-
vided has fed many families. It is no co-
incidence that wherever you see aloes
the Watapana is also seen. Both formed
a means of income for the countryside
during more than a century.q 3-Divi Divi pots