How I got to Jamaica...too.

[Rob]

Given that most of us are stuck at home if you would continue telling us about the trip, meaning what you did in Mexico, I doubt the board would mind. I realize it is a Jamaica board but travel is travel. I've had many great experiences in Mexico and I'm sure your trip was no exception.

Please keep discussions about Negril and Jamaica.

Thank you.

[Accompong]

Please keep discussions about Negril and Jamaica.

Thank you.

No, Thank YOU Besides, I am too worn out to write more anyways.... for now

Respect

[Accompong]

Here are a few more of the oldest pictures I have from 25 or 30 years ago.

This is a picture of an Accompong Town Kindergarten Pre-School class taken about 25 years ago when I visited bringing some school supplies and was asked to give the kids a brief talk.


I took this picture 26 years ago on a hike to the Peace Cave led by my now deceased best friend, Clive "Marshall" Robb.


This is a picture of some neighbor kids on Marshall's grandfathers house verandah. I stayed here for several visits over the years some 25 or more years ago. I took this picture after waking up from a nap in a chair on that verandah finding the kids had cut off some of my hair.


About 30 years ago, this picture was taken of the house where I lived in Seaview Gardens, Kingston.

[Accompong]

While on the topic of the Cockpits, I would like to share two pictures of the front and back of the LUMI currency currently being used internally by some of the residents of Accompong Town, St. Elizabeth Jamaica. There are still open question as to its legitimacy as a legal tender sanctioned by the Bank of Jamaica but, as of now, it is traded at some establishments in the town and there is a bank where it can be exchanged for Jamaican Currency when the bank is open.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...257?profile=-1
If nothing else, it makes for a “one of a kind” souvenir for tourists.

[Accompong]

A couple of more from a visit to White River and caving at Cooks Bottom and Cedar Springs.

From an Expedition to Cooks Bottom Cave. Although not as deep underground as some, the caverns are much larger than most. This is where the Maroons hid from the British during the Maroon Wars.

Another Expedition to Cedar Springs Cave nearer to Accompong Town. This cave is narrower and deeper than Cooks Bottom with a little lake of water in some areas.

While staying at James Bond Beach, I took a trip up the White River to go tubing and swimming.

Peace and Guidance

[Rob]

Thanks for understanding man!

[Accompong]

When I used to stay in Negril during the 90's, I stayed at the Negril Yacht Club that was owned by my good friend Chuck who was from my town in Florida.
I picked up a brochure in the office with the only map I could find of Negril at the time. I thought you might enjoy seeing it yourself. I particularly like the way they show the interactions between Jamaicans and the tourists. Hope you enjoy.


Peace and guidance.

[Accompong]

While on the subject of the Maroons and Accompong Town, here are a couple of more photos. These photos are about 30 years old.

On my first hike out into the Cockpits on the way to the Peace Cave where the Treaty to end the Maroon Wars was signed in 1739, took this picture of my best friend "Marshall" climbing the Karst limestone formations.


Before you reach the Peace Cave you find an area called Big Ground. This is where the invading British Soldiers set up camp and were attacked and suffered enough casualties in the middle of the night to convince King George to sue for peace and end the conflict.


This is a picture of Marshall and some youth under the Kindah "One Family" Tree. This is about a 200 year old mango tree where Cudjoe used to assemble his people and his warriors to plan strategy to defend against the advancing British Army marching up from Balaclava. They could watch them for about 3 days that it took to reach the area. This is called the "One Family" tree because the Maroons were from many tribes in Africa and they had to put aside tribal allegiances to become "One Family" to defeat the British invaders.


Although Marshall was a practicing Rastafarian, he went without his locks for several years. This is one of my favorite pictures of him. He died this past year from complications caused by unchecked cancer spread.

[rjonsun]

What are male yams? I have been loving your photo commentary.
Regards,
Bob

[Accompong]

What are male yams? I have been loving your photo commentary.
Regards,
Bob

Thanks for the love, Bob. I was wondering if anyone would ask. Here in the US I have heard them referred to as a "Man Yam". The Celebration Ceremony is a mixture of the harvest celebration and a fertility ritual. In the time of the Maroon Wars, they were constantly on the run and unable to cultivate crops so they were hunter-gathers. After the signing of the Peace Treaty in 1738-39, they were able to move from an area called Old Town to the top of the hill where the Kindah "one family" Tree was located and founded Accompong Town named for Cudjoe's brother.

The traditional feast was a fertility rite as their numbers had dwindled from about 600 to around 200 following the war. They had domesticated some boar and would choose a male that had to be black to cook without salt. They also had (what was referred to as) "male" roosters and the "male" yam was a Guinea yam also called the Jamaican Yellow Yam and considered "male" because of it's size and shape.

After the drinking of the rum and spitting it all around to ward off the evil spirits, the gathered crowd would clamor for a piece of each of these food items to ensure fertility. BTW, roasted boar without salt and not completely cooked through and through is nasty!

I am putting together a photo album so I might have a few more pictures to share as I run across them.

Peace and Guidance