Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 13 augusT 2019

Island curiosities and anecdotes of the 18th century Episode XXX

The Reverend Bosch, whose historical untrustworthiness has been men-
tioned before, possesses the merits of his demerits. He is a great hand at
giving most charming descriptions. According his comments here is the
Aruba of about 1825:

Pic.3. A day in Life in Curacao in the epoch
“A vessel arriving from the op- be afraid of the sea”.
posite coast periodically breaks
the monotony of this life and oc- “From time of years the com-
casions an interchange of ques- mander has been the island’s
tions and bits of information. An oracle and the man in whom all
arrival from Curacao, however, power and authority repose. He
causes a much greater stir, for used to have at his disposal, be-
Pic.1. Oranjestad around 1900 such t one not only provides oral sides two soldiers guarding the
information, but also brings let- fort, the so-called captain of
-“The Arubans are simple, obliging and honest. The engagements they enter ters and the Curacao paper. If the Indians, a white native was
into in matters of trade, though they undertake to comply with them only by any of the inhabitants has been the executor of his commands.
word of mouth, are met in the most loyal manner, to which the Jews do not himself to Curacao, there is He settled every dispute, of-
make an exception. On other grounds they occasionally quarrel with each much he can tell on his return ten even those arising within a
other, which, of course, is no more than can be expected because of the about the great buildings, the household.
double friction exiting here, partly arising from the smallness of the society to many carriages, the splendor of
which the more prominent persons here are confined, partly from family re- attire and furniture’ nor does he On my first visits to Aruba I at-
lations. Since they continually intermarry the majority of the more important omit so speak of how he paid his tended several sessions of the
residents are brothers-in-law or cousins. However, I was greatly pleased to note respects to the governor, and Court, whose proceedings
that a family –estrangement of which I had become aware during one of my especially of how cordially he made me laugh heartily, the
journeys on Aruba, had ceased to exist on my making the next. Their way of has been received by the sec- cases dealt with testifying to the
life is of the most monotonous; the uniformity of the climate, only varied by a retary. He or she would be sure simplicity of those in the lower
rare downpour of rain, is largely contributive to this. With a very few exceptions to go more frequently to Cura- stations of life.
people do not pass their time reading, also because they wrongly interpret an cao; but the laborious struggling
antique maxim, having been informed by their forefathers that reading may against wind and current in a
drive man insane”. small vessel causes people to Continued on Page 15

Pic.2. Venezuela in mooring at vessels Schooner Haven Pic.4. Woman complaining