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DUENNES (pronounced DWENS) are the mischievous spirits
of un-baptised children who lure living children away into the
forest where they are then abandoned. They take the form of
sexless children without faces except for a little mouth. Their
feet are turned backwards and they wear outsized straw hats
upon their large heads. They are wont to steal the names and
mannerisms of their intended victims, particularly at dusk.
Mothers use this myth to frighten their kids into staying indoors
once darkness falls.
PAPA BOIS (Father of the Woods) is the guardian of the
forests and protector of its animals. He appears in various
forms, mostly with a leafy beard and cloven feet, sometimes
as a deer, but mostly as a muscular, hairy old man in raggedy
clothes, blowing a cow horn to warn the animals of the hunters'
approach. It is as a deer that he tricks the hunters to follow
him into the deep forest where he reveals himself in his true
form in order to berate them, leaving them lost before vanishing.
MAMAN
de L'EAU (Water Mother) could very well be the first 'Eco-activist',
as she's known to take her revenge on men who pollute rivers,
burn and fell trees or kill forest animals. Her lower half takes
the form of a giant Anaconda snake, but she can also be transformed
into a beautiful belle, quietly singing as she sits on the river
bank. She is thought to be the lover of the forest's keeper,
the ultimate Eco Warrior Papa Bois.
Should you be so unlucky to encounter her - remove your shoes,
turn them up-side-down and walk barefoot backwards until you
reach home!!
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In
the folklore of these Islands there are a few characters, some
of whom have distant parallels with European counterparts. The
female vampire, Soucouyant, is one such and like some others
they are known by their French names - French patois being a
dominant language spoken in lots of the Caribbean islands in
earlier times.........Still is, in their former colonies, Haiti,
Martinique, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, French St. Martin and parts
of the Grenadines.
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SOUCOUYANT took the form of a ball of fire floating on the
wind and in the middle of the flames would be seen the face of
an old witch looking for people in order to suck their blood.
The victims would awaken with black and blue discolourations where
they had been sucked and usually died after a prolonged bout of
weakness and frailty. The Soucouyant was portrayed as an old crone
who lived alone and in order to achieve the transformation, had
to leave her skin behind in a mortar. She would return home just
before daylight and if the villagers had plucked up enough courage
to enter her home and find the mortar and were to sprinkle coarse
salt and pepper on the skin, she would not |
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be able to attain the retransformation and would therefore die
a horrible death. It
was also believed that if one were to empty a bag of rice at the
village crossroads, the Soucouyant was obliged to stop on her
way home and pick up each grain, where upon on the onset of daybreak
the villagers would discover her and her true identity.
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LA
DIABLESSE (Devil Woman) possesses a cloven hoof in place
of a normal foot, the other foot being fashionably shod. She
is usually very attractive and well perfumed, dresses in the
mode of the embroidered lace costumery of the French islands
with an elaborate turban, golden necklaces and ear-rings. She
preys on single men making their way home at night, usually
after a night out having a good time. She trails an old iron
chain, a heritage of her slavery days and it is believed that
she represents the spirit of the woman wronged, wreaking vengeance
on would-be male predators.
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She
seduces the young men, leading them on, as aflame with desire,
they follow her into the high woods never to return, or if they
do, it is as raving lunatics. In the Voodoo cult, she is worshiped
as the re-creation or Erzulie, the tragic West African goddess.
The lore may have been brought to these islands by French slaves
from St. Lucia and Haiti in the late 1700's.
Don't
stay out late, young fella!
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Go
Visit the Tobago Museum
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They had old shoes, old clothes, all kinda ting, Ah piece
of the Governor's hat. (Lord Melody 1950's Calypso)
The
museum, housed on two floors, offers and displays information
relating to segments of Tobago's history and some areas of the
region. It takes you back 300 years and is located at Fort King
George up on the hill above Scarborough giving a 360 degree
panoramic view of the town beneath as well as the horizons of
the Windward coast.
The
British Governor General of Grenada and Tobago authorised the
erection in 1777 of barracks, kitchens and a parade ground to
house two companies of soldiers. Four years later the French
over ran the island but work continued under Count Dillon who
renamed it Fort Castries in honour of the French War Minister
- The Marquis of Castries (hence Castries Street).
The
after effects of the French Revolution spread to their possessions
in the West Indies, where in Tobago for example, the garrison,
having renamed the fort - Fort Republique and Fort Liberty,
eventually mutinied. The British recaptured the fort in 1793
renaming it Fort King George after King George III and a garrison
was maintained there until 1854.
One
may view original site plans which indicate the locations of
the main citadel, officers' mess, prison compound, military
cemetery, the powder house, water tanks and the hospital and
parade grounds.
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Artefacts
of the indigenous Aboriginals (Amerindians), various maps, charts
and military and colonial administrative documents including
slave and plantation data are also on display together with
paintings, fossils, stamps, coins and historical utility objects.
It
makes for a delightful visit, its location offering wonderful
photo opportunities and picturesque views. The museum itself
has been well maintained with friendly and helpful staff which
included the respected curator for many years - Mr. Hernandez
who, amongst his other skills and traits is a charming and amiable
artist.
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The
museum is open Mon-Fri 9 a.m to 4.30 p.m (closed on Public Holidays)
and admission prices are very modest with concessions for teens
and kids. They also provide assistance to students pursuing
research and they arrange group work shops and lectures. Tel:
639 3970
Go
back in time and take a walk through Tobago's past. Inform yourself……….
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OLD
POSTCARDS FROM TOBAGO
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The
picture postcards reproduced here are from an album of old
postcards of Scarborough from the early and mid 20th Century.
Very
little remains today to remind us of those times as much of
Scarborough Town has been modernised.
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However,
the collection of original postcards provides us with an opportunity
to view Scarborough in earlier times. The memorial seen here
was sited outside Ciao Café and the building at the top right
side is, just about, still standing today. The women waiting
for the fishing boats are in the area where the Port now stands.
The
photo album is available from Miles Almandoz in Lower Scarborough,
Morshead Supermarket and the book store at Gulf City Mall.
Photos
courtesy of J. Aizlewood, Curtis Wharton and the family of Miles
Almandoz.
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It
was once a common rural pastime for families and neighbours
to gather round the outdoor fire at night, roasting and eating
nuts and corn while recounting tales and superstitions much
to the fearful delight of the children. Here is one such Tobago
legend…………………….
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GANG
GANG SARAH
Legend
has it that one stormy night Sarah flew from Africa and landed
in the Tobago village of Les Coteaux, from where she journeyed
to Golden Lane in search of her family who had been transported
there as slaves. There she resided and was the loving wife of
Long Tom, who legend says she had known as a child in her native
Africa. She lived to a ripe old age and when Tom died she thought
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that she would return to Africa. However,
her diet would naturally contain salt as most diets do, and
the story goes that she climbed the Silk Cotton tree but was
unable to fly back as she had eaten salt. It's believed that
she is buried under this tree, and to this day the names of
Tom and Sarah can been seen inscribed upon two headstones in
Golden Lane.
This
story has become part of Tobago's folk lore, and you can find
the ancient tree on the way to Footprints Eco Resort. There
are many interesting versions told of the legend of Gang Gang
Sarah.
Picture
- Kind Courtesy Paria Publishing Co. Ltd.
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