The Gens Arime - Pt. 1 From Carina to Carib
Long before Columbus attempted to sail west, several tribes of indigenous people lived on an island they called KAIRI. Among them were a group who identified themselves as CARINA or CARINEPOGOTO. "POGOTO" being the word for "people" in their language.
The Carina believed they were descended from ancestors who brought them to this world on the instruction of a Great Spirit whose name could not be called, and who existed above the skies. A special person had been given the job of transporting them to the earth by carrying them in his navel. He was identified as LOUQUO.
On arriving on earth, Louquo showed what food were to be eaten; how to plant, harvest and prepare food crops; and how to utilize available material for utilitarian devices and for shelter from the elements. When they were capable of self-sufficiency, Louquo returned to the place above the skies, this, according to the spiritual lore of the Carinas.
By the time Columbus and other European people had started to explore the areas they renamed "The Americas" and "The West Indies", the Carina, had already evolved a system of survival which was based on co-existence with nature, rather than its removal or destruction.
In the society of the Carina, all persons were regarded as equal and expected to make some contribution to the existence of the group. Persons who were chosen as leaders, performed in this role only when it was necessary, as on the instances when the War Chief led warriors into battle and needed to plan strategies against the enemies; or when the wisdom of a person was needed to make decisions or alternately, to officiate over a social function.
The Europeans who came from class structured societies in which idle ruling class was the norm, identified the system when they encountered it in places such as Cairi, the island Columbus renamed "Trinidad", as an example of the low intelligence and primitive state of people. Also considered evidence of their primitive state was the manner in which they kept their bodies with a limited amount of clothing.
Europeans who lived for a period of time among the Carinas, revealed that on arising each morning, a person played a flute, added to by another flute, and another, continuing until the entire village resounded with such music. It is now possible to acknowledge that what was performed was their form of praise to the Great Spirit, similar to that of saying a prayer in another culture.
After this, everyone bathed in a nearby waterway, for villages were always located near to running water.The men and all boys over the age of four, lived in a large house called a CARBET. The men and boys bathed first, then the women, girls and young children, who lived in individual households, bathed after.
Following the morning meal, it was customary to comb their hair, dressing it with oil. The women did this job for the men. The skin was next, anointing it with a mixture of oil and the paste extracted from the ROUCOU (Annatto) plant. Europeans assumed this was done to "frighten the enemies". In actuality the Carinas had discovered that this served as an insect repellent and a sun screen as well as a protection from the sea blast to those who reside near the coast.
The Carinas bathed again at midday and in the late afternoon. It was customary for anyone who performed a job which caused body sweat, to take a bath as well. A priest, Fr. Raymond Breton who lived for many years among the "island Caribs" of Dominica and Guadeloupe ascribed "their good health was due to such extreme cleanliness".
Columbus and other early European visitors, commented on the physical attractiveness and "wellformed bodies" of the people they met in Kairi. This may well have been due to the balanced diet they and other indigenous people of the region ate. Most of them used no salt, which may have accounted for some Europeans claiming their meals were "tasteless". The Carinas however flavored their food with herbs such as the one now called "Colantro"; or "Jadin Bene" or "Chadon Bene". They also used the various species of pepper for flavor and nutrition. It is from the Carinas that many of the common vegetables of the modern balanced diet was learnt by the Europeans. Beans, Avocado, Pumpkin, Tomato, Corn and fruit such as the Pineapple and Guava are just a few of the "New World" foods, endowed to the rest of the world.
While an attempt to colonize Trinidad at a relatively early date, and the area renamed SAN JOSE to be its capital, there was no great response from Spanish immigrants who made their way westwards, to stay in Trinidad. Most of them stopped over only to recuperate from the long journey and to get fresh food and water before going to the nearby mainland where they hoped to reach the fabled "El Dorado", City of Gold.
They, like Columbus learnt that gold circlets and pendants, which were worn by the Carina and other tribal people in Trinidad came from the great land mass and the pearls they were told, came from an island which was later named "MAGARITA" by the Spaniards. Some of the Spanish adventurers kidnapped young men of the indigenous tribes of Trinidad and forced them to dive for these pearls, others who settled, tried to enslave them; while some tricked groups of them into entering a building, then setting it afire.
These acts angered the Carina and caused them to retaliate successfully as they were especially resentful at efforts by the missionaries sent by Spain, to convert them to Christianity. Because they, as other Carina people elsewhere, were the most skilled warriors, and consequently the most successful in defending their rights, Columbus complained to the Spanish administration that they deserved to be enslaved since they refused to be Christianized, and added that they were CARIBALES, ".....consumers of human flesh.....". From this evolved the word "cannibals" and the reclassification of the Carina people as "Caribs".
The lifestyle of the Carina generally allowed excellent health. They were however, as susceptible as anyone else at the time to small pox, and to other introduced illnesses. Those who were converted, were made to wear clothes, and because they were unaccustomed to it, when caught in tropical rainfalls, and the garments kept on, they acquired respiratory illnesses and died.
To be continued.....
