History · St. Ann · written in Patois with an English translation
Before any ship from Europe eva touch ya, di Taino people-dem did live inna Jamaica long-long time. Dem fish, dem plant cassava, dem mek canoe outta big tree, an dem call di island Xaymaca — land a wood an wata. Den inna May 1494, pon im second voyage, Christopher Columbus reach Jamaica fi di fus time, right pon di St. Ann coast. Fi years everybody seh a Discovery Bay im did land — a dat gi di town i name — but some historian seh a more likely near St. Ann's Bay, weh di Spanish lata build dem fus settlement, Sevilla la Nueva. Wha wi know fi sure: afta di Spanish come, tings go bad fi di Taino-dem. Sickness an cruel treatment tek dem one by one, an inna likkle more dan a hundred years dem mostly gone. But dem no vanish fully — inna Green Grotto Caves near Discovery Bay yuh can still see relic a di Taino life, an Taino word like hammock, hurricane an barbecue still deh pon everybody tongue. Tideh, di same St. Ann coast a one a di busiest tourist part a Jamaica. Ship full a visitor come een a Ocho Rios every week, an tousan a people climb Dunn's River Falls, weh di cool wata tumble dung ova di rock go a sea. Bauxite ship out from Discovery Bay too. Old-old history an new-new business, side by side pon one coast.
Before any ship from Europe ever touched here, the Taino people had lived in Jamaica for a very long time. They fished, they planted cassava, they made canoes out of great trees, and they called the island Xaymaca — land of wood and water. Then in May 1494, on his second voyage, Christopher Columbus reached Jamaica for the first time, right on the St. Ann coast. For years everybody said he landed at Discovery Bay — that is what gave the town its name — but some historians say it was more likely near St. Ann's Bay, where the Spanish later built their first settlement, Sevilla la Nueva. What we know for sure: after the Spanish came, things went badly for the Taino. Sickness and cruel treatment took them one by one, and in little more than a hundred years they were mostly gone. But they did not vanish completely — in Green Grotto Caves near Discovery Bay you can still see relics of Taino life, and Taino words like hammock, hurricane and barbecue are still on everybody's tongue. Today, that same St. Ann coast is one of the busiest tourist parts of Jamaica. Ships full of visitors come into Ocho Rios every week, and thousands of people climb Dunn's River Falls, where the cool water tumbles down over the rocks to the sea. Bauxite ships out from Discovery Bay too. Very old history and brand-new business, side by side on one coast.
Bifuor eni ship fram Europe eva toch ya, di Taino piipl-dem did liv iina Jamieka lang-lang taim. Dem fish, dem plaant kasava, dem mek kanuu outa big chrii, an dem kaal di ailan Xaymaca — lan a wud an wata. Den iina May 1494, pon im sekan vaiyij, Christopher Columbus riich Jamieka fi di fos taim, rait pon di St. Ann kuos. Fi ierz evribadi se a Discovery Bay im did lan — a dat gi di toun i niem — bot som istuorian se a muor laikli nier St. Ann's Bay, we di Spanish lieta bil dem fos setlment, Sevilla la Nueva. Wa wi nuo fi shuor: afta di Spanish kom, tingz go bad fi di Taino-dem. Siknis an kruuel chriitment tek dem wan bai wan, an iina likl muor dan a onjred ierz dem muosli gaan. Bot dem no vanish fuli — iina Green Grotto Caves nier Discovery Bay yu kyan stil si relik a di Taino laif, an Taino wod laik amak, orikien an baabikyuu stil de pon evribadi tong. Tide, di siem St. Ann kuos a wan a di biziis tuoris paat a Jamieka. Ship ful a vizita kom iin a Ocho Rios evri wiik, an touzan a piipl klaim Dunn's River Falls, we di kuul wata tombl dong uova di rak go a sii. Baaksait ship out fram Discovery Bay tuu. Uol-uol ischri an nyuu-nyuu bizniz, said bai said pon wan kuos.
Checked against Higman's Jamaican Food (2008); he confirms none of the claims on this page specifically, so he is not cited here.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
Hear this read aloud in St. Ann →