Jamaica's historical hills and mountains

by Barbara Ellis
(London, England)

On my last visit to Jamaica I wasn't too interested in the sea and sand this time. I was interested in the happening in the hills and mountains that encircle the island which provided sanctuary for the enslaved Africans forcible landed on the island from 1500 onwards.

The hills and mountains that encircle the island gives it its unique atmosphere took on a new meaning for me. For the first time I saw the beauty of the hilly and mountainous lanscape. The shimmering bluey-grey landscape that is uniquely Jamaican enthralled me.

As I travelled around the island my eyes were glued to the mountainous landscape teeming with the past heroic and valiant struggles of the enslaved Africans who fought daily to end their enslavement and liberated themselves in 1838.

The mighty Maroons of the Cockpit country in St.James and Trelawny as well a the ferocious warrior queen at the other end of the island in Portland Nanny of the Maroons.

My fellow travellers looked enquiringly in the distance wondering what their fellow traveller was looking at. I marvelled at the splendour of this beautiful and mountainous island.

I wondered at the battles and wars which took place in those distant and mountainous terrain. I imagined the brave Africans who fought and died in the hilly and mountainous landscape and on the plantations as they rebelled and fought to end their enslavement.

I tried to imagine the Africans in the cane pieces working incessantly during the day, and at dusk fitting in the rest of their lives in their meagre spare time.

I wondered which brave Africans worked, walked and fought on the land I was walking on or the roads I was travelling along. It was a fulfilling holiday as I thought about the brave people and their plight 500 years ago.

They have left us a wonderful and proud history to be celebrated and signposted for visitors to our island and for ourselves and future generations.

Barbara Ellis

Editor's Note

Thanks a mil for this contribution Barb -very interesting. I've added a few photos. Hope you like them.

See Also: Early History Of Jamaica

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