The Tainos/Arawaks

Physical Appearance

The Tainos were short to medium height, well- shaped, but slightly built, expect in

Hispaniola where they were plump. According to Christopher

Columbus, their skin colour was ‘’olive’’, that is smooth and brown. Their heads

were fattened at the forehead by the use of boards or bandages when they were

babies. The Tainos had broad noses and nostrils. Their hair were black and

straight, but coarse, and was usually worn long.

Economic Organization

The Tainos fished, hunted and grew just enough food for themselves and their

families. This is known as subsistence living. There was little or no extra food

produced for storing or trading. The forest was cleared by burning trees and

bushes and then planting crops. This method of clearing the forest is known as

the slash-and-burn technique. Manioc or cassava was their main crop. They also

cultivated other crops such as maize or corn, sweet potato, cotton, groundnuts,

and tobacco. Since manioc could be harmful, they squeezed the juices out of it

before making flour. The flour was then used to make cassava bread.

The Tainos practiced farming and gathering along with fishing and hunting.

They caught and ate various types of fish, crabs, lobsters, turtles, shellfish, and

manatee (sea cow). The coral reefs around the islands were filled with these

animals which were easily caught by harpoon, or by hand. Turtles were caught by

tying a remora (sucker-fish) that was caught on a long line to a canoe. The remora

would dive for the turtle and attach itself to the back with its sucker. The turtle

would then be pulled into the canoe by the fishermen.

Hunting on land was more difficult as there were few large animals to put in a

stew. The iguana, agouti and the Indian coney gave the most meat. Birds such as

parrots, doves and wild ducks were also hunted and caught by slipping a noose

over their heads. The method of catching ducks showed a lot of cunning. First,

they floated gourds downstream until the ducks became used to seeing gourds,
and then the hunter himself would drift downstream with a gourd over his head,

breathing through a hole and seeing through eye-slits. When he came upon a bird

he would pull it under water by its legs and drown it! There was only one type of

domestic animal called an alcos (a small barkless dog). These small dogs were

used to help the Tainos hunt.The Taino food was carefully prepared by stewing,

baking, roasting and barbecuing. Iguana meat was stewed, cassava cakes were

baked, and fish was roasted. Seasoning with salt and pepper was common. There

was a special sauce called cassareep, made of salt, pepper and cassava juice. The

favourite dish of the Tainos was pepperpot, a great stew into which went meat,

vegetables, nuts, and of course pepper. A good pepperpot lasted for weeks. Its

flavour was changed as some meat was added. Intoxicating drinks were made up

of cassava and maize. In addition, there were also a variety of fruits and

vegetables available. These included, pineapples, star apples, mammy apples, hog

plums, guavas, and paw-paw. The Tainos therefore enjoyed a varied and well-

balanced diet and food was plentiful.