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If Jamaica were compared to a painting it would be a masterpiece of tropical splendor.

Framed by towering blue mountains, the landscape is filled with the multicolored hues of

exotic flowers and plants, and subdued by the various greens of dense jungles, woody

meadows and misty valleys. Countless waterfalls tumble and cascade downward over

boulders and gorges, feeding the rivers which spread out like hundreds of fingers across

the island. The water gently flows by riverbanks lined with wildflowers, or past mangrove

swamps and rustic fishing villages, whitewashed towns, and the Colonial Great Houses

which dot the countryside. Finally the rivers blend into the Caribbean Sea, only to wash

up on the golden beaches that encircle this intriguing island.

Jamaica is a paradise for both the adventuresome traveler seeking the many unique

outdoor treasures which the island offers in abundance, as well as for those wanting

to be pampered at the island's many spas, or lavished upon at one of the all-inclusive

fun and sun resorts which line the legendary Northern Gold Coast.

History, People & Culture

Welcome to Jamaica, an island that the Arawak Indians called "Xymaca"- the land of wood and water. Columbus first visited the island on his second voyage in 1494; on another voyage in1503

he was stranded on the north coast due to a shipwreck. His own log details the beauty of the

island and the help of the friendly Arawak people. His affection for the Arawak did not stop him

from claiming the island for Spain. The only thing the colonists seemed to accomplish was the

extermination of the Arawaks and the introduction of African slaves brought in to replace them.

Arrival of the English

After nearly 150 years as a Spanish backwater the island was changed forever with

the arrival of an invading English army in 1655. The English ousted the Spanish and

began their own colonization. Jamaica became a permanent possession of England

after a bloody Spanish counter-invasion failed miserably in 1670.

Pirates, Plunder and Power

The English quickly turned Port Royal into a fortified and thriving port that grew richer

at the expense of plundered Spanish cities and galleons. As a magnet for swashbuckling

pirates, the port also gained a reputation as one of the most dubious and notorious cities

in the world. Piracy on the high seas began to disappear with the appointment of the

infamous Captain Morgan as Lt. Governor of Jamaica. Once a pirate himself, Captain Morgan

turned on his former associates and rooted out pirate strongholds. Morgan helped firmly

establish the powerful English presence throughout the Caribbean.

Earthquakes, Sugar and Slave Revolts

Jamaica's capital city, Port Royal, once boasted that it was the "wickedest city on earth".

On June 7, 1692, just before noon, a devastating earthquake struck the capital and in less

than twenty minutes most of the city was ripped from land and driven into the sea. Giant tidal

waves swept over ships and into the crushed city, drowning thousands and leaving only a handful of survivors to rebuild the ruined port (in 1704 a fire would destroy all these rebuilding efforts).

Despite the destruction of their capital city, the rest of the island prospered as a major agricultural center of the Caribbean. Due to its large size, fertile soil and abundant rainfall, Jamaica grew many crops, the most lucrative being sugar cane. An explosion in world demand for sugar allowed Jamaica to grow rich and powerful as more and more slaves were imported to the island to expand the plantations. Over the years the ratio of slaves to owners reached proportions of 15:1. Unrest and demands for freedom spread throughout the island. Slave revolts became a constant and the English army was called in to crush the many rebellions.

Maroons and the Cockpit Country

One of the most interesting historical notes unfolded in the rugged limestone hill area known as

the Cockpit Country. Slaves escaping into this remote and unfriendly terrain were called Maroons derived from the Spanish word Cameroon, which means 'wild'. Their numbers kept growing as a continuous stream of runaway slaves added to their ranks. The Maroons fought the Spanish and English for over 100 years from their mountain strongholds. Only after the English army fought

their way into the capital of Nanny Town and burned it to the ground was peace finally made.

The Maroons received autonomy; in return, the English asked for a cessation of fighting and

that all further slaves that escaped into the area would be returned to the owners for a bounty.

Emancipation and Independence

The early 1800's saw continued slave unrest and another bloody conflict with the Maroons.

Finally, in 1838 slavery was ended throughout the British Empire. Hundreds of thousands

of Jamaican slaves rejoiced; former slaves refused to work the fields and the once

lucrative sugar business began to fade away. Political reform and participation in

government by the local Jamaicans continued for the next 100 years, sometimes erupting

into violent of the British Commonwealth. The Royal British Troops withdrew that same year,

ending over 300 years of British rule on the island.

"Out of Many, One People"

This is the motto that unites the many different people of Jamaica, the majority of whom

are of African and African-European descent. There are also small minorities of Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, German and English, along with emigrants from other Caribbean islands. In general Jamaicans are friendly, outgoing and very proud of their nation. They enjoy humor, swapping stories (or liming as they call it), can be opinionated and are very talented. Jamaican artwork is highly sought after and the Reggae music that originated on the island is world renown.

Though English is the official language it is fascinating to listen to "Jamaican Talk", or the local dialect spoken in a musical lilt- a mixture of English and African words (and some slang thrown

in as well!). Jamaicans keep a positive and carefree attitude toward life, answering many questions or inquiries with a "No Problem Mon" or an "Irie" - believing that its all going to work out and

everything is OK! If you want to experience the culture and the people firsthand, Jamaica runs

a very successful and popular 'Meet the People' program that matches up families of similar interests.Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board at 800.233.4582. No Problem Mon.!

The Jamaican Flag

Features a gold cross on a black-and-green background. Some Jamaican friends explained to me that the gold cross represented the sunshine that blesses the island, the green from the rainfall that makes the island lush and verdant and the black for the people and for the African slaves forced over to the island that after centuries won their freedom. The flag is recognized throughout the world and Jamaican sports teams proudly incorporate the flag into their uniforms.

Oral traditions formed a powerful bond of folklore that has been passed down from

African slaves in the 17th and 18th century and are still retold today. There are two

spirits in Jamaican folklore -- Obeah and Jumbie. Obeah is a superstitious spirit that is held accountable for both good and evil. Legend has it that Obeah takes things away from people

who take it for granted (health, wealth, happiness, love etc.), so when you ask a Jamaican how

they are doing or feeling they may quickly answer "could be better" or "not too bad".

The jumbie is similar to the jumbies of other Caribbean islands and is represented at Carnival

and parades as the stilt-walking 12 and 18 feet tall twirling Mocko Jumbies. They are said to

be spirits of dead people who didn't want to leave the island. Jamaican lore is also full of stories

of the African-linked Anansi or spider. The stories are used as parables to teach lessons.

In Jamaica the spider has become a "spider man" who walks upright and is a cunning

trickster who always gets whatever he wants -- but always for the good of a moral.

Bus Cell #: (773) 297-4683

Business #: (773) 274-5532

Pager # : (773) 448-9956


	JAMAICA \| home About TCE \| Our Services \| Caribbean Round-Up \| THE AUGUSTFEST CARIBBEAN ROUND-UP \| THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO \| MEET THE PEOPLE PROGRAM \| BEACHCOMBERS-APPLICATION \| NEGRIL TREE HOUSE RESORT-APPLICATION \| HOME SWEET HOME-APPLICATION \| TERMS & CONDITIONS \| Discount Group Rates \| Contact Us \| AIR JAMAICA \| Me Soon Come \| FAQ \| References Me Soon Come If Jamaica were compared to a painting it would be a masterpiece of tropical splendor. Framed by towering blue mountains, the landscape is filled with the multicolored hues of exotic flowers and plants, and subdued by the various greens of dense jungles, woody meadows and misty valleys. Countless waterfalls tumble and cascade downward over boulders and gorges, feeding the rivers which spread out like hundreds of fingers across the island. The water gently flows by riverbanks lined with wildflowers, or past mangrove swamps and rustic fishing villages, whitewashed towns, and the Colonial Great Houses which dot the countryside. Finally the rivers blend into the Caribbean Sea, only to wash up on the golden beaches that encircle this intriguing island. Jamaica is a paradise for both the adventuresome traveler seeking the many unique outdoor treasures which the island offers in abundance, as well as for those wanting to be pampered at the island's many spas, or lavished upon at one of the all-inclusive fun and sun resorts which line the legendary Northern Gold Coast. History, People & Culture Welcome to Jamaica, an island that the Arawak Indians called "Xymaca"- the land of wood and water. Columbus first visited the island on his second voyage in 1494; on another voyage in1503 he was stranded on the north coast due to a shipwreck. His own log details the beauty of the island and the help of the friendly Arawak people. His affection for the Arawak did not stop him from claiming the island for Spain. The only thing the colonists seemed to accomplish was the extermination of the Arawaks and the introduction of African slaves brought in to replace them. Arrival of the English After nearly 150 years as a Spanish backwater the island was changed forever with the arrival of an invading English army in 1655. The English ousted the Spanish and began their own colonization. Jamaica became a permanent possession of England after a bloody Spanish counter-invasion failed miserably in 1670. Pirates, Plunder and Power The English quickly turned Port Royal into a fortified and thriving port that grew richer at the expense of plundered Spanish cities and galleons. As a magnet for swashbuckling pirates, the port also gained a reputation as one of the most dubious and notorious cities in the world. Piracy on the high seas began to disappear with the appointment of the infamous Captain Morgan as Lt. Governor of Jamaica. Once a pirate himself, Captain Morgan turned on his former associates and rooted out pirate strongholds. Morgan helped firmly establish the powerful English presence throughout the Caribbean. Earthquakes, Sugar and Slave Revolts Jamaica's capital city, Port Royal, once boasted that it was the "wickedest city on earth". On June 7, 1692, just before noon, a devastating earthquake struck the capital and in less than twenty minutes most of the city was ripped from land and driven into the sea. Giant tidal waves swept over ships and into the crushed city, drowning thousands and leaving only a handful of survivors to rebuild the ruined port (in 1704 a fire would destroy all these rebuilding efforts). Despite the destruction of their capital city, the rest of the island prospered as a major agricultural center of the Caribbean. Due to its large size, fertile soil and abundant rainfall, Jamaica grew many crops, the most lucrative being sugar cane. An explosion in world demand for sugar allowed Jamaica to grow rich and powerful as more and more slaves were imported to the island to expand the plantations. Over the years the ratio of slaves to owners reached proportions of 15:1. Unrest and demands for freedom spread throughout the island. Slave revolts became a constant and the English army was called in to crush the many rebellions. Maroons and the Cockpit Country One of the most interesting historical notes unfolded in the rugged limestone hill area known as the Cockpit Country. Slaves escaping into this remote and unfriendly terrain were called Maroons derived from the Spanish word Cameroon, which means 'wild'. Their numbers kept growing as a continuous stream of runaway slaves added to their ranks. The Maroons fought the Spanish and English for over 100 years from their mountain strongholds. Only after the English army fought their way into the capital of Nanny Town and burned it to the ground was peace finally made. The Maroons received autonomy; in return, the English asked for a cessation of fighting and that all further slaves that escaped into the area would be returned to the owners for a bounty. Emancipation and Independence The early 1800's saw continued slave unrest and another bloody conflict with the Maroons. Finally, in 1838 slavery was ended throughout the British Empire. Hundreds of thousands of Jamaican slaves rejoiced; former slaves refused to work the fields and the once lucrative sugar business began to fade away. Political reform and participation in government by the local Jamaicans continued for the next 100 years, sometimes erupting into violent of the British Commonwealth. The Royal British Troops withdrew that same year, ending over 300 years of British rule on the island. "Out of Many, One People" This is the motto that unites the many different people of Jamaica, the majority of whom are of African and African-European descent. There are also small minorities of Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, German and English, along with emigrants from other Caribbean islands. In general Jamaicans are friendly, outgoing and very proud of their nation. They enjoy humor, swapping stories (or liming as they call it), can be opinionated and are very talented. Jamaican artwork is highly sought after and the Reggae music that originated on the island is world renown. Though English is the official language it is fascinating to listen to "Jamaican Talk", or the local dialect spoken in a musical lilt- a mixture of English and African words (and some slang thrown in as well!). Jamaicans keep a positive and carefree attitude toward life, answering many questions or inquiries with a "No Problem Mon" or an "Irie" - believing that its all going to work out and everything is OK! If you want to experience the culture and the people firsthand, Jamaica runs a very successful and popular 'Meet the People' program that matches up families of similar interests.Contact the Jamaica Tourist Board at 800.233.4582. No Problem Mon.! The Jamaican Flag Features a gold cross on a black-and-green background. Some Jamaican friends explained to me that the gold cross represented the sunshine that blesses the island, the green from the rainfall that makes the island lush and verdant and the black for the people and for the African slaves forced over to the island that after centuries won their freedom. The flag is recognized throughout the world and Jamaican sports teams proudly incorporate the flag into their uniforms. Spider Man Oral traditions formed a powerful bond of folklore that has been passed down from African slaves in the 17th and 18th century and are still retold today. There are two spirits in Jamaican folklore -- Obeah and Jumbie. Obeah is a superstitious spirit that is held accountable for both good and evil. Legend has it that Obeah takes things away from people who take it for granted (health, wealth, happiness, love etc.), so when you ask a Jamaican how they are doing or feeling they may quickly answer "could be better" or "not too bad". The jumbie is similar to the jumbies of other Caribbean islands and is represented at Carnival and parades as the stilt-walking 12 and 18 feet tall twirling Mocko Jumbies. They are said to be spirits of dead people who didn't want to leave the island. Jamaican lore is also full of stories of the African-linked Anansi or spider. The stories are used as parables to teach lessons. In Jamaica the spider has become a "spider man" who walks upright and is a cunning trickster who always gets whatever he wants -- but always for the good of a moral. back to TOP CAT ENTERPRISES TOP CAT ENTERPRISES Bus Cell #: (773) 297-4683 Business #: (773) 274-5532 Pager # : (773) 448-9956 E-mail : tcesistac@hotmail.com . E-mail : tcesista_c@yahoo.com .