Thoughts on Jamaican History

[jah_yout]

quote I saw from a study that is very interesting...

It is estimated that when Jamaica fell into the hands of the
English the population of the capital was half Spanish and Portu-
guese or their descendants and half slaves ; but it is a curious fact
that a negro is mentioned as holding the position of priest of the
Roman Catholic church.

[jah_yout]

Bryan Edwards points out that Fernando Columbus's " Historic "
states that the Indian name of Antigua was Jamaica, and he adds :
" It is a singular circumstance that this word which in the language
of the larger islands signified a country abounding in springs,
should in the dialect of the Charaibs have been applied to an island
that has not a single spring or rivulet of fresh water in it." Until
further research proves the contrary Jamaica must remain, what
it truly is, the land of woods and streams.

from http://archive.org/stream/cu31924020...17527_djvu.txt

[jah_yout]

another interesting anectdote

Ocho Rios said to mean eight rivers. [In St. Ann. It was more
commonly called Chareiras in Long's time ; and indeed as
late as 1841, William Rob wi-ote "Ocho Rios, called to this
day by the old inhabitants ' Cheireras,' its early and appro-
priate name ' the Bay of the Water-Falls,' but has now gone
back to Ocho Rios." It is not unlikely that the present form
Ocho Rios and the derivation from eight rivers is wrong, and
that the real name is Chorrera, a spout. There is a Chorrera
River in Cuba, near Havarmah.]

[jah_yout]

Iboes and Coromantees?

Of direct records of slavery days there are not many prominent
relics.

Here and there a punishment cell is found, with indications of
the fixing of shackles ; but of stocks and such-like implements
no traces remain. A few examples of branding -irons exist. In this
connection it may be of interest to quote Bryan Edwards's account
of the method adopted in branding slaves :

" A gentleman of my acquaintance, who had purchased at the
same time ten Koromantyn boys and the like number of Bboes
(the eldest of the whole apparently not more than thirteen years
of age) caused them all to be collected and brought before him
in my presence, to be marked on the breast. This operation is
performed by heating a small silver brand composed of one or
two letters, in the flame of spirits of wine, and applying it to the
skin, which is previously anointed with sweet oil. The application
is instantaneous and the pain momentary. Nevertheless, it may
be easily supposed that the apparatus must have a frightful appear-
ance to a child. Accordingly when the first boy, who happened
to be one of the Eboes, and the stoutest of the whole, was led
forward to receive the mark, he screamed dreadfully, while his
companions of the same nation manifested strong emotions of
sympathetic terror. The gentleman stopt his hand, but the
Koromantyn boys, laughing aloud, and, immediately coming
forward of their own accord, pffered their bospms imdaimte^y
to the brand, and receiving its impression without flinching in the
least, snapt their fingers in exultation over the poor Eboes."

[Tuff Gong]

from http://archive.org/stream/cu31924020...17527_djvu.txt

Maybe the Indians had hope for Springs in Antigua?

[blugiant]

yuh kno mii told x-man ann imm mismanagement team dat itt thyme fe returned ann separate pon de varandah fram coodeh cah pon da varandah use fe ave spotlite pon famous jamaicans ann wii cood xxplore owa roots ann kulcha.

oww jam.com doan see de need fe a place fe deal widd owa roots ann kulcha iss poor slackness

[RichD]

yuh kno mii told x-man ann imm mismanagement team dat itt thyme fe returned ann separate pon de varandah fram coodeh cah pon da varandah use fe ave spotlite pon famous jamaicans ann wii cood xxplore owa roots ann kulcha.

oww jam.com doan see de need fe a place fe deal widd owa roots ann kulcha iss poor slackness

yuh fulla jokes today eh. so yuh really want to explore this stuff but because there is not separate forum it a hold yuh back?