Page 21 - ATA

A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 18 June 2019

The Aruban way of life since 1678 Episode XXIII

From a previous episode, a relevant passage in the 1678 Dutch version
of Exquemeli’s vicissitudes, it appears that in his time Spanish was still
spoken here. Next to nothing has been published about the origin of Pa-
piamento, but it is assumed that this mixed language originated with the
arrival of the Castilians, mainly because of the broken Spanish natives
from Aruba where combined with their own.

The next influx of Africans also made it more accessible for those higher on
the socially scale, since Aruban natives where employed in the beginning and
where who directed the first Africans in the broken Spanish they talked. Father
Schabel, himself an excellent speaker of Spanish, says that in his time, after
1704, broken or corrupted Spanish was also heard on Curacao. This was prob-
ably of the more and more influx of Aruban natives speaking a mix of Spanish
and Arawak. Already before this date it was made a requirement for outgoing
ministers to speak Spanish in order to be able to work successfully among the
Amerindians of Aruba. As the number of Africans increased, the language of
the natives were rapidly adopted by the Portuguese speaking Jews and their
slaves. This is how Papiamento got a support and starts to develop in what it
has become today. The European families coming to Curacao already spoke
Papiamento after one generation, the younger members being brought up
by native Jaja`s or nany`s had its influence on their lexicon. The few Europeans
and their slaves coming to Aruba brought new words to the Aruban Papia-
mento. The vicinity of the continent and family ties, kept the more distinctive Pic. 1. Natives kids on donkeys
Spanish Amerindian elements to the Aruban Papiamento. After 1816 the num- charter, among whose number were also St.Eustatius, Saba, and
ber of those speaking Papiamento rapidly went up, the Indians themselves dy- St.Martin, and all other Caribbean islands. The new company only
ing out, or marrying into the non-Arawak speakers of Papiamento and adopt- possessed a monopoly to carry on trade with the first class territo-
ing this idiom as their own. ries, those of the second class being open to all Dutch ships against
payments of the dues conceded to the Company in the charter.
First class Island Practically this division into classes did not affect Aruba’s position.
On 20 September 1674 the second West India Company took over the pos- The second West India Company, too, left the island to its own re-
sessions of the old one. Aruba, too, came to the new Company as a “depen- sources. Undefended it lay open to every attacker.
dency” of Curacao. For the history of the island this change would be of no
significance if this second company had not divided the islands mentioned in Free booters on Aruba
its charter into two classes. Buccaneers and smugglers from time to time brought some change
To the first class belonged the islands which had in actual fact been occu- to the quiet life of Aruba’s two hundred odd inhabitants. Horse-
pied by its predecessor, among which were Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba. breeding from Spanish times, was continued by the Company. The
The second class comprised all other coasts and regions referred to in the 1621 animals formed one of the attractions luring on French and English
privateers; Bonaire and Curacao, where horses were bred as well-
on Bonaire at least as many as on Aruba-were garrisoned.

Continued on Page 15

Pic. 3. An 1808 satiric poster of free booters Pic. 4. A naval free booters battle for supremacy