Review article
Participation of Doljani from the Island of Hvar in the First Collective Emigration of Croats to South America 1880−1914
Božidar Posinković
; Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The author makes note of the relatively strong emigration of people from the village of Dol on the island of Hvar between 1880 and 1914. Emigration was explicitly economic-motivated. Dalmatia at the time was hit by two economic catastrophes: the “wine clause”, which exposed local wines to the competition of cheap Italian alternatives, and the spread of Peronospora. Since viticulture provided the major source of income for Dalmatians, they fell into very hard times, in which emigration became their only salvation. Emigration from Dol had its specific characteristics: practically all emigrants left for Argentina − when they would come to their destination, they would not seek more suitable places, but rather remain where they first had arrived. Most often they worked in lonely and remote regions, on rented land, without suitable tools. Their work and life was hard and difficult, much more difficult than in their homeland. Nobody ever returned. Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren do not know Croatian. The third generation was the first which could provide its children with a better education. The author pleads for the promotion of ties, any ties, with these long lost compatriots.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
127251
URI
Publication date:
29.11.1993.
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