Arawak (Taino) Natives
The original inhabitants of the Caribbean as a region, including Jamaica, were the Arawaks. Explorer Christopher Colombus named the island Saintaingo, sometimes referred to as Tainos. It was created from the words, "Yamaye," as "Xaymaca .The Taino word means "many springs." The abbreviated name, "Ja" and the Rastafarian term "Jamdung" (Jamdown) are used by some residents, along with "Yaahd" (Yard),
Read more: Culture of Jamaica - history, people, clothing, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Jamaica.html#ixzz20VltgmEJ "While it appears that some Arawak survived the arrival of the Europeans, there are no self-identified Arawak communities living as such in Jamaica, and recovering traces of their original culture requires sophisticated archaeological techniques.
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Famous quotes containing the word natives:
“I am sorry to say we whites have a sad reputation among many of the Polynesians. The natives of these islands are naturally of a kindly and hospitable temper, but there has been implanted among them an almost instinctive hate of the white man. They esteem us, with rare exceptions, such as some of the missionaries, the most barbarous, treacherous, irreligious, and devilish creatures on the earth.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)