Page 14 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Friday 13 June 2025

Cas di Torto

Existing houses date back
150 years. Until 1925 many
houses on Aruba were built
using this technique, after-
wards it fell into disuse. In
2005 there were 62 cas di
torto houses left, of which
only four were in good con-
dition.
The skeleton of the hous-
es is made up of round
wooden poles placed with
distances of 1.5 feet be-
tween them. Branches are roof beams. Until 1815 the be a wooden or metal bar-
interwoven between them, roofing usually consisted rel for storing water that
completing the structural of corn (maize) stems, af- was collected in small rain
support. On this basis, loam terwards the nuclei of co- ponds. Around this barrel a
ORANJESTAD - Cas di torto few structures that still ex- is applied, mixed with sand, lumnar cacti were used. thick loam wall would be
(also called cas di lodo or ist are the oldest structures water and para grass. This is The floor is made of loam, erected. Often large fami-
cas di bara) is a traditional that are left standing in the then coated with aloe vera mixed with cement or cow lies would live in these hous-
building technique from country. juice, which gives the white dung. es; people would sleep on
Aruba. It refers to a type of colour and helps to protect \ mats on the floor.
houses made of mud with The technique probably against the weather. The houses were usually di- If you visit the Arikok Na-
rounded corners. These came over from the Ven- On top of the poles piec- vided into a kitchen, a living tional Park you will be able
houses were usually found ezuelan Paraguaná Pen- es of wood are fitted that room, a porch and a bed- to see a very nice cas di
around the plantations. The insula in the 18th century. serve as the base for the room. In the kitchen would torto.q

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

(Oranjestad)—The Bushiri- was commissioned by the spread among the locals
bana Gold Mill Ruins is one Dutch West India Company. who started searching for
of the most visited places Under the leadership of Mr. more gold. About 25 pounds
by tourists on the island, as it Paulus Printz, a three-year worth was found.
lies along the northern coast search was conducted on
line near the mini pool and Aruba, to no avail. Though At the same time, the Aru-
on the way to the Natural they found some gold, it ban government took im-
Bridge. Despite its seemingly was enough to motivate a mediate actions, and in-
plain appearance, this ruin further search, and the as- formed Curacao that gold
represents one of the most signment was discontinued was found. At first, everyone
important histories of the is- by Printz himself. could look for gold, as long ods to dig and carve out obtain pure gold. All these
land: The Aruban Gold Rush. as they sold it to the govern- gold from the rocks. Aruba processes were done at the
It wasn’t until 100 years lat- ment. However, after some Island Gold Mining Com- Bushiribana Gold Mill.
Built in 1872 by English com- er, in 1824, when a young time, the government de- pany Ltd. was no different,
pany Aruba Island Gold Min- boy found a lump of gold cided to implement strict- but used a unique method The gold mill itself had a
ing Company Ltd, the gold while out herding his fa- er rules and banned local that involved grinding the short life-span: only 10 years
mill at Bushiribana was con- ther’s sheep. His father took search parties. rocks and letting the dust be in service, but its structure
structed in the area where it to a local merchant who blown away by the strong remained relatively solid till
most gold was found by then sold the lump for $70. Over the years, conces- northeast wind, leaving this day, and is now a histori-
locals. The story of gold on Unbeknownst to the boy sion-holding had seen dif- clumps of gold behind. The cal remnant. q
Aruba actually dates back and his father, they quite ferent companies from next step was melting the
to 1725, when a first explo- literally struck gold, and as around the world, all of gold and letting it attach Sources: Etnia Nativa & gold-
ration for gold on the island word got out, a gold fever which used primitive meth- to quicksilver in order to mineranch.com.