Chief Hyarima: Legend and Fact?

Documentary evidence for Hyarima is still rather slim. It can be found in two letters of 1636 by Don Diego Lopez de Escobar, Governor and Captain General of Trinidad. Framed within the context of the Spanish-Dutch conflict, these documents relate the story of the aid of 50 Indians from Guyana for the Spanish, and Nepuyos for the Dutch. The Dutch had established a fort on the northeast coast, and a settlement on the south coast. According to one historian, these documents state: “The Nepuyo Indians whose Cacique was Hyarima lived three leagues (nine miles) to the east of St. Jospeph, evidently at Arima. They had offered the Dutch as hostages all the old men, women and children of the tribe in return for the assistance of 80 men with arquebuses,” but the Dutch refused. However, the Dutch and Hyarima did launch attacks up the Orinoco and against St. Joseph, the capital of Trinidad, in 1637.

See K.S. Wise (1934) Historical Sketches of Trinidad and Tobago, Vol. I. Port of Spain, Trinidad: Historical Society of Trinidad and Tobago: pps: 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 62, 70.

Arie Boomert, a Dutch archaeologist, also wrote the following: “In 1637 a Nepoio headman of east Trinidad, called Hierreyma (Arima?) is mentioned as an ally of the Tobago Dutch. He had become an enemy of the Spaniards after he had served under them at an encomienda, 11 years before”.

See Arie Boomert, 1982. “Our Amerindian Heritage”, Trinidad Naturalist. 4 (4) Jul-Aug: 35.

There is, therefore, this possible double-sided feature of the history of Hyarima, seemingly engaged in anti-colonial resistance (fighting the Spanish, his former masters), yet aiding rival imperialists (the Dutch). As you will see on the page linked above, Hyarima has been decidedly cast in the former light, as a hero of national sovereignty. As one further, and minor example, suggests, this version is gaining currency. A recently produced music cassette, Hyarima: Guardian of Parang, states on its cover that Hyarima grew up in an encomienda, and then became a warrior, the, “great leader of the Carib people of Trinidad”. It adds: “Hyarima devoted his life to protecting his people and their ancestral lands from European colonizers and also to preserving their customs and culture.” While not mentioning how he fought against Amerindians allied with the Spanish, this version states that Hyarima was devoted to, “forming strong alliances with other Amerindian groups”. In addition, it says that he led revolt against Capuchins at the Mission of San Francisco de los Arenales, in 1699, a full 62 years after the raid mentioned above, which is not just unlikely, it is also established that he was not at that mission and that the rebellion was led by Cacique Bustamante.

Composite photograph of the plaque next to the statue of Hyarima that greets visitors entering Arima along the Eastern Main Road (Photo: Maximilian C. Forte, 1998).

For more on the events leading up to and stemming from the 1699 uprising at Arena, see:

De Verteuil, Anthony, C. S. Sp. 1995. Martyrs and Murderers: Trinidad, 1699. Port of Spain, Trinidad: St. Mary’s College.

Also, in terms of the growing mythology surrounding Hyarima, see the locally famous pageant play by former Arima Mayor F.E.M. Hosein, wrriten in 1931, and titled: HYARIMA AND THE SAINTS.