Page 14 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Friday 19 September 2025

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

leadership of Mr. Paulus Printz, a
three-year search was conducted
on Aruba, to no avail. Though they
found some gold, it was enough to
motivate a further search, and the
assignment was discontinued by
Printz himself.

It wasn’t until 100 years later, in
(Oranjestad)—The Bushiribana 1824, when a young boy found a
Gold Mill Ruins is one of the most lump of gold while out herding his
visited places by tourists on the is- father’s sheep. His father took it to a
land, as it lies along the northern local merchant who then sold the
coast line near the mini pool and lump for $70. Unbeknownst to the
on the way to the Natural Bridge. boy and his father, they quite liter-
Despite its seemingly plain ap- ally struck gold, and as word got
pearance, this ruin represents one out, a gold fever spread among
of the most important histories of the locals who started searching letting it attach to quicksilver in or-
the island: The Aruban Gold Rush. for more gold. About 25 pounds Over the years, concession-holding der to obtain pure gold. All these
worth was found. had seen different companies from processes were done at the Bushiri-
Built in 1872 by English company around the world, all of which used bana Gold Mill.
Aruba Island Gold Mining Compa- At the same time, the Aruban gov- primitive methods to dig and carve
ny Ltd, the gold mill at Bushiribana ernment took immediate actions, out gold from the rocks. Aruba Is- The gold mill itself had a short life-
was constructed in the area where and informed Curacao that gold land Gold Mining Company Ltd. span: only 10 years in service, but
most gold was found by locals. The was found. At first, everyone could was no different, but used a unique its structure remained relatively sol-
story of gold on Aruba actually look for gold, as long as they sold it method that involved grinding the id till this day, and is now a histori-
dates back to 1725, when a first to the government. However, after rocks and letting the dust be blown cal remnant.
exploration for gold on the island some time, the government decid- away by the strong northeast wind,
was commissioned by the Dutch ed to implement stricter rules and leaving clumps of gold behind. The Sources: Etnia Nativa & goldminer-
West India Company. Under the banned local search parties. next step was melting the gold and anch.com.

Birds of Aruba: Soaring through the blue skies

(Oranjestad)—Aruba’s nature is But don’t let their angelic songs sign of any threat. They use termite
very diverse and is home to sev- fools you; the Trupial can be a bit nests for breeding spots and feed
eral beautiful and majestic wild- aggressive towards any threat, pro- mostly on seeds from the Kwihi
life. Among these is the bright Tru- tective over their nesting spots— tree, Divi Divi tree and fruits.
pial, whose angelic voice is always nesting spots they most likely stole
heard with the rising sun; the cud- from other birds. Trupials can be Warawara
dly parakeet, always in company seen regularly, often in trees or on The Warawara or Caracara is one
of another, and the majestic War- top of a cactus. of the biggest birds found in the
awara, a mighty bird that can be Aruban mondi. At a heigh of 41 to
seen soaring in the clear blue skies. Prikichi (parakeet) 60 cm, their wingspan can mea-
The Brown-throated Prikichi (Aratin- sure up to 125 cm. Known as the calling.
Trupial ga pertinax) became the national “garbage man”, this bird of prey
Icterus icterus, or known locally as bird of Aruba back in 2015, at the mostly feeds on dead animals. Its While these birds are a beautiful
the Venezuelan or Orange Trou- request of Aruba Birdlife Conserva- coat is dark brown, with a cream- sight to behold, it is very important
pial, is a striking songbird whose tion. The bright green, adorable colored neck, orange face, thick to keep your distance and respect
bright orange feathers can be parakeet usually flies in flock of beak and long legs. The Warawara their habitats. This is how we protect
spotted from a far distance. Known 30 or more, but its population has prefers to build its nest in the mid- our wildlife. By admiring the beauty
to be the first bird to sing at the first been declining since the 2010s. dle of tall cacti and produces a of Aruba in a safe and respectful
sign of sunrise, this beloved song- Prikichis are a shier breed than the rattling, screaming sound, throwing manner, we can do our part in pro-
bird likes to wake up with a tune. trupial, often flying away at the its head back onto its back while tecting our sacred nature.q