Page 3 - AHATA

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local Saturday 24 auguSt 2024
Aruba: the legend behind its name

(Oranjestad)—Most folk- rest. The God of living has
loric tales and legends in given me the gift of life to
Aruba revolve around our see my son, grandchildren
indigenous ancestors, who and great grandchildren.
came from mainland Ven- But now he is calling me
ezuela, and discovered the home. Corobori, my torch is
island and made it into their now passed to you. Guide
new home. This particular our people, and be the
legend tells the story of the leader you were always
birth of the Aruba name. meant to become. If one
day you leave my island,
The legend follows the life do not forget that it is also
of Arua, an indigenous Ca- yours. This is my last wish:
cique originally from Aroa When I die, bury me in our
in the Falcon state in Ven- maize plantation.”
ezuela in the year 50 AD.
Arua had a son around And so when the Cacique
the year 70 AD with his wife passed away, his wishes
Shira, who they named were granted and he was
Corobori. When Corobori laid to rest in the area we
was old enough, he joined now know as the Parade-
his father on the usual boat ra Cemetery. Where he
trip to the islands of Cura- used to live, they built the
cao and Bonaire to gather sign of anything. When the up, we saw in the distance days of exploring the island Paradera Church.
salt. sun finally descended, they a glowing plain, which we and gathering some salt
found themselves near a think may be salt.” rocks, they left for Venezu- And that is the tale of what
On their way back to Main- fairly tall hill and decided to ela, where they were re- inspired the Aruba name. In
land Venezuela, they were climb it for a better view of The Cacique was pleased united with their families. the generations that lived
caught up in a heavy rain a village. This hill was called to hear of his son’s findings. or travelled back and forth
storm—a side effect from a Pan Dushi or Orcuyo, which He decided to stay a cou- Throughout the year, they to the island, there were
passing, but far away, hur- today we call Hooiberg. ple days on the newly-dis- travelled back and forth to many familiar names*, like
ricane. Of course, because covered island in search for Aruba, collecting salt. After Guadiriki, a warrior who
of the lack of motors and The next morning, they salt. The next morning they a while they settled on the was there when the island
sail, their boat was left in the could clearly see that they ascended Hooiberg again island, generations of fami- got discovered and his son,
mercy of the heavy winds. have landed on an island, and stayed to see if they lies living along the coast. whom he called Huliba;
After a while, the storm but an unfamiliar one at could find nearby smoke, Corobori was the first indig- Corobori and his children,
started to pass, and the that. When Corobori went indicating an inhabitant vil- enous inhabitant in our his- Corodori, Camacuri and
clouds began to clear up. back to where his father lage. But they found noth- tory to explore the entirety Turibana, Masiduri; and
Finally able to see around was waiting, he told him ing. So they went back to of the island. Malmok, the 13-year-old
them, the Cacique spot- the news: “Father Arua, their initial arrival settle- boy who alerted the Caci-
ted land approximately an you have just discovered ment, now known as Santo Arua, after decades as the que when the Caribes at-
hour away. So, they started an island, but it is not Cu- Largo in Savaneta. The next leader of his tribe, spent tacked.
to row in that direction until racao or Bonaire. Far in morning they hiked along his last days on the island.
they reached the coast. the south, we saw the big the Spaans Lagoen near Having reached 80 years Familiar names: all these
mountains of our home- the Mangel Halto Beach old, he called for his fam- names are familiar to Aru-
Once they arrived on what land Venezuela, which we and reached the area of ily on his death bed. In his bans, as these are the
they thought was Venezue- could have never seen on Bushiri. There, they boarded hammock, he said: “My names of places and plants
la, they decided to stay the the other island. This leads they kayaks and heading children, many years have on the island.
night and fix their kayak. us to believe we are on a to what we know now as passed, and I’ve asked my
The next morning, the Caci- new island. But that’s not Malmok, where they found warrior to bring me back to Source: Un storia di e Indjan
que ordered his son and a all. When the sun came rocks of salt. After a couple the island so I can laid to Arua (A story of the Indian
few warriors to go find any
sign of population in the
area: "Corobori,” Arua said.
“Don't come back with-
out news. It’s in your hands
how long we stay here till
we find our family. So, if you
need to take a week to
gather information, we will
wait for you."

"Don't worry,” Corobori re-
plied. “As soon as we have
any information, we will
let you know." Armed with
arrows and spears, back-
packs filled with food and
water containers, they set
off. They climbed several
small hills, but no sign of a
village. They crossed differ-
ent dry riverbeds, but no