The Gens Arime - Pt. 2 From Carina to Carib

All these factors contributed to the dramatic reduction of the indigenous population, so that by the 1750's, the Spanish administrators and the church authorities considered the time was right to establish a mission in Arima, as it was by then possible, to control their small population. 

It was customary at all of the Mission Towns created by the Capuchin priests, to have the adult males elect the equivalent of a 'Town Council' or Cabildo, from among their number. In actuality, these people had no powers but was made to believe they were a 'cut above the rest ' and would serve as a go between the priests and the administrators who sought to establish a European style "class structure" in the conquered lands. 

In Arima, because only women are converted at first, this Town Council was composed of women and headed by the most important one, the daughter of the last chief. According to the oral lore, her name was ANACANOA. The Church and State authorities endowed her with the name of TITULAR QUEEN. 

The men were eventually converted when there of them were hunting in in the forested area South-east of Arima, came to a gushing spring where a strange woman sat on a rock. The woman they were supposed, must have been one of the party of Spanish settlers who had lost her way, so they took her to the priest because they were unable to communicate with her verbally. 

On inquiring about her the next day they were told she had disappeared. The elders of Arima's Santa Rosa Carib Community claimed that this happened three times, but on the fourth occasion, the men RAIMUNDO, PUNYA and PUYON, found instead a necklace and a crown of roses in the colours red, yellow, white and pink. By this the church and state authorities determined that the woman was the manifested spirit of ROSA, the first canonized Saint of the Americas. 

According to the oral lore that was handed down in Arima, ROSA was born there during the time when her parents, on their way from Spain to the South American mainland, stopped over fondest and to acquire fresh food and water supplies, as was customary. So accepted was this practice, the fishing village which the Carina called CONQUARIBA was renamed PUERTA DE ESPANA (Port of Spain) by these transients. 

Her family eventually settled in Lima, Peru and apparently prospered, for Rosa became widely known for the charitable worked she performed among Christianized Amerindians, enslaved Africans and destitute of the Spanish immigrant community. Her physical beauty was legendary, and it was said that many wealthy and powerful men wished to marry her, but Rosa refused to marry as she had pledged to devote her life to God and to assisting the less fortunate. 

Rosa is regarded throughout South America as the founder of Social Welfare Services in the region, and the Carina men of Arima decided that the experience of Raimundo, Punta and Puyon meant that they were being advised by her to become Christians of only for their survival as a people. The spring where the hunters met the mysterious personage has since been known as AGUA SANTA (Water Of the Saint) while the surrounding forest, which has given way to modern housing estate SANTA ROSA HEIGHTS.

To be continued.....