74 



SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



it was seized in 1632 by the Dutch, who remained masters of the archipelago till 

 the wars of the Empire, when it was temporarily occupied by the English and 

 restored to Holland in 1814. Despite its small extent and scanty population, this 

 colony is highly valued by its possessors on account of the deep and well- sheltered 

 harbour on the south coast of Curaçao. At the time of the conquest by the Dutch 

 traders Curaçao was still inhabited by a tribe of about 500 aborigines, who are 

 said to have accompanied the Spanish settlers to the mainland. 



Willemstnd, capital of the colony, lies on the east side of the harbour, which is 

 still often designated by its old Spanish name of Santa Ana. The capital itself is 



Fig. 25. — CtTEACAO. 

 Scale 1 : 700,000. 



69° .0 



50' West or Greenwich 



Depths. 



to 500 



Fathoms. 



500 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



12 Miles. 



better known by the name of Curaçao, which is that of the whole island. The 

 houses are built in a style resembling that of Amsterdam as far as was possible 

 under the conditions required by a tropical climate. In the passage separating it 

 from the western suburb of Overzijde ("Overside"), and in the swampy waters 

 ramifying inland, Willemstad also presents the aspect of a Dutch town. The 

 quays are everywhere crowded with shipping, while men-of-war ride at anchor in 

 the Schottegat, a deep lagoon forming a northern extension of the harbour. A 

 bridge of boats connects the capital with its suburb just above two forts guard- 

 ing the entrance to the basin, which is accessible to the largest vessels through a 

 channel 6 to 10 fathoms deep. 



