Page 9 - AHATA

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local Thursday 4 december 2025
Aruba: the legend behind its name

(Oranjestad)—Most folk- ent dry riverbeds, but no of the island.
loric tales and legends in sign of anything. When the
Aruba revolve around our sun finally descended, they Arua, after decades as the
indigenous ancestors, who found themselves near a leader of his tribe, spent
came from mainland Ven- fairly tall hill and decided to his last days on the island.
ezuela, and discovered the climb it for a better view of Having reached 80 years
island and made it into their a village. This hill was called old, he called for his fam-
new home. This particular Pan Dushi or Orcuyo, which ily on his death bed. In his
legend tells the story of the today we call Hooiberg. hammock, he said: “My
birth of the Aruba name. children, many years have
The next morning, they passed, and I’ve asked my
The legend follows the life could clearly see that they warrior to bring me back to
of Arua, an indigenous Ca- have landed on an island, the island so I can laid to
cique originally from Aroa but an unfamiliar one at rest. The God of living has
in the Falcon state in Ven- that. When Corobori went given me the gift of life to
ezuela in the year 50 AD. back to where his father see my son, grandchildren
Arua had a son around was waiting, he told him and great grandchildren.
the year 70 AD with his wife the news: “Father Arua, But now he is calling me
Shira, who they named you have just discovered home. Corobori, my torch is
Corobori. When Corobori an island, but it is not Cu- now passed to you. Guide
was old enough, he joined racao or Bonaire. Far in our people, and be the
his father on the usual boat the south, we saw the big leader you were always
trip to the islands of Cura- mountains of our home- meant to become. If one
cao and Bonaire to gather land Venezuela, which we day you leave my island,
salt. could have never seen on do not forget that it is also And that is the tale of what boy who alerted the Caci-
the other island. This leads yours. This is my last wish: inspired the Aruba name. In que when the Caribes at-
On their way back to Main- us to believe we are on a When I die, bury me in our the generations that lived tacked.
land Venezuela, they were new island. But that’s not maize plantation.” or travelled back and forth
caught up in a heavy rain all. When the sun came to the island, there were Familiar names: all these
storm—a side effect from up, we saw in the distance And so when the Cacique many familiar names*, like names are familiar to Aru-
a passing, but far away, a glowing plain, which we passed away, his wishes Guadiriki, a warrior who bans, as these are the
hurricane. Of course, be- think may be salt.” were granted and he was was there when the island names of places and plants
cause of the lack of mo- laid to rest in the area we got discovered and his son, on the island.q
tors and sail, their boat The Cacique was pleased now know as the Parade- whom he called Huliba;
was left in the mercy of the to hear of his son’s findings. ra Cemetery. Where he Corobori and his children, Source: Un storia di e Indjan
heavy winds. After a while, He decided to stay a cou- used to live, they built the Corodori, Camacuri and Arua (A story of the Indian
the storm started to pass, ple days on the newly-dis- Paradera Church. Turibana, Masiduri; and Arua) by Adolf (Dufi) Kock.
and the clouds began to covered island in search for Malmok, the 13-year-old
clear up. Finally able to see salt. The next morning they
around them, the Cacique ascended Hooiberg again
spotted land approximate- and stayed to see if they
ly an hour away. So, they could find nearby smoke,
started to row in that direc- indicating an inhabitant vil-
tion until they reached the lage. But they found noth-
coast. ing. So they went back to
their initial arrival settle-
Once they arrived on what ment, now known as Santo
they thought was Venezue- Largo in Savaneta. The next
la, they decided to stay the morning they hiked along
night and fix their kayak. the Spaans Lagoen near
The next morning, the Ca- the Mangel Halto Beach
cique ordered his son and and reached the area of
a few warriors to go find Bushiri. There, they board-
any sign of population in ed they kayaks and head-
the area: “Corobori,” Arua ing to what we know now
said. “Don’t come back as Malmok, where they
without news. It’s in your found rocks of salt. After a
hands how long we stay couple days of exploring
here till we find our fam- the island and gathering
ily. So, if you need to take some salt rocks, they left
a week to gather informa- for Venezuela, where they
tion, we will wait for you.” were reunited with their
families.
“Don’t worry,” Corobori re-
plied. “As soon as we have Throughout the year, they
any information, we will travelled back and forth to
let you know.” Armed with Aruba, collecting salt. After
arrows and spears, back- a while they settled on the
packs filled with food and island, generations of fami-
water containers, they set lies living along the coast.
off. They climbed several Corobori was the first indig-
small hills, but no sign of a enous inhabitant in our his-
village. They crossed differ- tory to explore the entirety