Caribs in the Caribbean

Where did some Carib people migrate to about 1,000 years after the Arawaks settled in the Antilles?

What similarities existed between the Arawaks and the Caribs?

Why were the Caribs always fewer in number than the Arawaks?

What was the relationship between the Caribs and the earlier Arawak settlers in the Lesser Antilles?

What did the Caribs continually do that caused fear among the Arawaks?

What was the purpose of posting sentries on the shores near Carib villages?

Describe the typical welcoming process for strangers arriving in Carib villages.

What were the Caribs' dietary restrictions and preferences?

What was the significance of the men's house, known as the carbet or tahouri, in Carib villages?

How did the Caribs prepare their favorite dish of crab stew?

What ingredients were used by the Caribs to make a soup from agouti bones and other leftovers?

How did the Caribs cook grilled fish, their typical dish, before serving it with a sauce called gouii?

What did the Caribs believe about certain foods like salt, pig, and turtle?

Carib Migrations

About 1,000 years after the Arawaks settled in the Antilles, some Carib people migrated to the Lesser Antilles.

Carib and Arawak Similarities

Both groups spoke Arawakan languages.
They had similar social structures and customs.

Carib Population

The Caribs were always fewer in number than the Arawaks due to their more warlike lifestyle.

Carib - Arawak Relationship

The Caribs were aggressive and violent toward the Arawaks, forcing them to flee to the larger islands.
They routinely raided Arawak villages and took captives.

Carib Practices

The Caribs would post sentries on shores near their villages to watch for approaching enemies and warn the villagers.

Welcoming Strangers

Visitors to Carib villages were initially treated with suspicion and were not allowed to enter until they were scrutinized by the elders.

Carib Dietary Restrictions

Caribs avoided eating salt and disliked turtle meat.
They preferred fresh meat, especially crab and fish, and often ate wild animals like the agouti.

The Men's House

In Carib villages, the men's house, known as the carbet or tahouri, served as a gathering place for men, a dormitory, and a place for rituals.

Preparing Crab Stew

Carib crab stew involved simmering the crabs with green herbs and hot peppers, and was their favorite dish.

Soup Ingredients

Caribs made a soup from agouti bones and other meat scraps, boiled in seasoned water.

Grilled Fish

The Caribs typically grilled fish, which was then served with a sauce called gouii.
Gouii was made with crushed herbs, peppers, and cassava.

Food Beliefs

They believed that salt and pig were the food of the dead.
They associated turtles with fertility and spirituality.

Learn about the Carib people who originated in South America and eventually settled in the Caribbean islands. Discover the similarities and differences between different Carib tribes and their culture.