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local Friday 28 June 2024
Aruba: the legend behind its name

(Oranjestad)—Most folkloric tales and
legends in Aruba revolve around our The Cacique was pleased to hear of
indigenous ancestors, who came from his son’s findings. He decided to stay a
mainland Venezuela, and discovered couple days on the newly-discovered
the island and made it into their new island in search for salt. The next morn-
home. This particular legend tells the ing they ascended Hooiberg again and
story of the birth of the Aruba name. stayed to see if they could find nearby
smoke, indicating an inhabitant village.
The legend follows the life of Arua, an But they found nothing. So they went
indigenous Cacique originally from Aroa back to their initial arrival settlement,
in the Falcon state in Venezuela in the now known as Santo Largo in Savaneta.
year 50 AD. Arua had a son around the The next morning they hiked along the
year 70 AD with his wife Shira, who they Spaans Lagoen near the Mangel Halto
named Corobori. When Corobori was Beach and reached the area of Bushiri.
old enough, he joined his father on the There, they boarded they kayaks and
usual boat trip to the islands of Curacao heading to what we know now as Mal-
and Bonaire to gather salt. mok, where they found rocks of salt. Af-
ter a couple days of exploring the island
On their way back to Mainland Vene- and gathering some salt rocks, they left
zuela, they were caught up in a heavy for Venezuela, where they were reunit-
rain storm—a side effect from a passing, ed with their families.
but far away, hurricane. Of course, be-
cause of the lack of motors and sail, their Throughout the year, they travelled
boat was left in the mercy of the heavy back and forth to Aruba, collecting salt.
winds. After a while, the storm started After a while they settled on the island,
to pass, and the clouds began to clear generations of families living along the
up. Finally able to see around them, the coast. Corobori was the first indigenous
Cacique spotted land approximately inhabitant in our history to explore the
an hour away. So, they started to row entirety of the island.
in that direction until they reached the
coast. Arua, after decades as the leader of his
tribe, spent his last days on the island.
Once they arrived on what they thought Having reached 80 years old, he called
was Venezuela, they decided to stay for his family on his death bed. In his
the night and fix their kayak. The next hammock, he said: “My children, many
morning, the Cacique ordered his son years have passed, and I’ve asked my
and a few warriors to go find any sign of warrior to bring me back to the island so
population in the area: "Corobori,” Arua I can laid to rest. The God of living has
said. “Don't come back without news. given me the gift of life to see my son,
It’s in your hands how long we stay here grandchildren and great grandchildren.
till we find our family. So, if you need to But now he is calling me home. Corobo-
take a week to gather information, we ri, my torch is now passed to you. Guide
will wait for you." our people, and be the leader you were
always meant to become. If one day
"Don't worry,” Corobori replied. “As you leave my island, do not forget that
soon as we have any information, we it is also yours. This is my last wish: When
will let you know." Armed with arrows I die, bury me in our maize plantation.”
and spears, backpacks filled with food
and water containers, they set off. They And so when the Cacique passed away,
climbed several small hills, but no sign of his wishes were granted and he was laid
a village. They crossed different dry riv- to rest in the area we now know as the
erbeds, but no sign of anything. When Paradera Cemetery. Where he used to
the sun finally descended, they found live, they built the Paradera Church.
themselves near a fairly tall hill and de-
cided to climb it for a better view of a And that is the tale of what inspired the
village. This hill was called Pan Dushi or Aruba name. In the generations that
Orcuyo, which today we call Hooiberg. lived or travelled back and forth to the
island, there were many familiar names*,
The next morning, they could clearly see like Guadiriki, a warrior who was there
that they have landed on an island, but when the island got discovered and his
an unfamiliar one at that. When Coro- son, whom he called Huliba; Corobori
bori went back to where his father was and his children, Corodori, Camacuri
waiting, he told him the news: “Father and Turibana, Masiduri; and Malmok,
Arua, you have just discovered an is- the 13-year-old boy who alerted the
land, but it is not Curacao or Bonaire. Cacique when the Caribes attacked.
Far in the south, we saw the big moun-
tains of our homeland Venezuela, which Familiar names: all these names are fa-
we could have never seen on the other miliar to Arubans, as these are the names
island. This leads us to believe we are on of places and plants on the island.
a new island. But that’s not all. When the
sun came up, we saw in the distance a Source: Un storia di e Indjan Arua (A
glowing plain, which we think may be story of the Indian Arua) by Adolf (Dufi)
salt.” Kockq