Page 15 - AHATA

Monday 3 July 2023 locAl
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The district of Savaneta

A quick history guide to the island’s first capital

(Oranjestad)—Before Oran- end of the Cacique Arua, it form of civilization.
jestad became the island is believed that there were
nation’s capital, Aruba’s already movements on It wasn’t until 1499 when
first capital was the district Aruba—and Savaneta— Aruba met another group of
of Savaneta. Here is where around 88 AD. people who set foot on the
the cultural identity of Aruba island: the Spanish explorer
was born, and from where The Caquetios probably Alonso de Ojeda. De Ojeda
the rest of the island devel- made their way to the is- first took notice of Aruba
oped into what it is today. land either from Venezuela, off the coast of Venezuela, “Quebracho” (Kibrahacha) tree; used to make dye and paint
Colombia or other Carib- during his exploration of the
Savaneta is said to have bean islands in the region, Latin American country. This island. This was the begin- moved away from Savane-
been the first place where but with good weather it was on August 9th, 1499. ning of colonization of the ta, the capital lost its title to
the Caquetio inhabitants was relatively easy for them However, de Ojeda didn’t ABC islands by the Dutch what was called then Playa.
first stepped foot on the to travel back and forth in actually sail to the island till empire. Around the same,
island. Though there isn’t their canoes. So, since the 4 days later, on August 23rd, the West Indian Company How Savaneta got its name
hard evidence to back this Caquetios discovered the 1499. This was the beginning (WIC) was born. Bonaire The name Savaneta prob-
up, but considering the leg- island, Aruba found her first of the Spanish era on Aruba and Curacao were mostly ably has a Spanish origin.
(1499-1636). used for plantations, where It was said that when the
the Dutch had transported Spanish climbed a hill called
Alonso usually didn’t stop at slaves from Africa. Aruba, on Yara, they saw that the area
every island or land he saw, the other hand, was mostly was mostly open and had
especially not in the Carib- used to raise cattle and to no big trees. In Spanish, such
bean. He would often take house the haring factory. a land area is called a “sa-
notice of land from afar and The Dutch had often forced bana”.
continue sailing. However, the indigenous community
Aruba was an exception. to work for them. Because of its land surface,
He had heard that there In 1636, when the Nether- Savaneta was a great place
were “quebracho” trees lands won the war against to construct cattle farms.
on the island, which were Spain, the country surren- From here, the farmer cul-
commonly used to produce dered the islands to the ture on Aruba was born. Be-
dye or paint. But since these Dutch. fore the Aruban Gold Rush
trees could not be found in and the construction of the
Savaneta, he continued to The Dutch administration Refinery in San Nicolas, most
search in the area of what appointed the island’s first residents were farmers, and
is now known as Santa Cruz. commander, an Irish man Savaneta had many inhab-
The best way to transport named N. Williams. Because itants that farmed fruits and
the tree barks was via a the Dutch were interested in vegetables. They also con-
route passing through Sa- other Caribbean islands and tinued the tradition of rais-
vaneta, and so the first road countries in South America, ing cattle, like goat, sheep,
between Savaneta and they imported Dutch mer- pigs and horses. Savaneta
Santa Cruz was made. chants and business men, was one of the first places
all of whom resided in Sava- on the island to have a gen-
The Dutch colonial era neta. This way, Savaneta of- eral farming culture. From
(1636-1805) ficially became the island’s this culture, many other tra-
During the 80-year war be- first capital. ditions were born, like the
tween The Netherlands Dera Gay Holiday that we
and Spain, Dutch explorers However, at the end of celebrate every year on
and merchants began to the 18th century, the com- June 24th.
travel to the ABC islands. mander at the time, J.R.
Once they landed in Aruba, Lauffer, moved his office to Source: Historia di Savaneta
they deported the small Ar- what is now “Horse Bay” in (History of Savaneta) by Ad-
awakan and Spanish com- Oranjestad. Because the olf “Dufi” Kock.
munity that was living on the highest office on the island