Later, the Dutch supplied slaves from Africa, and they taught the English the techniques necessary for the production of sugar. African slavery was not new to the West Indies and had been introduced by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The English planters sought various groups to provide the much needed labour. The whole process of making sugar required a huge labour force. Large parcels of land were planted in sugar cane. The second half of the Seventeenth Century saw the beginning of the 'sugar revolution'. This signaled the end of piracy in the West Indies. In 1692 this town suffered destruction by an earthquake in which more than half of the town sank beneath the sea. Great wealth was brought to the island by the buccaneers, who operated mainly from Port Royal, by plundering Spanish ships which transported gold and silver from South America.īy the late Seventeenth Century, Port Royal had earned the reputation of being the richest and the wickedest city in the world. The island began to prosper under the rule of the British. Although the Spaniards were driven out they never gave up hope of recapturing the island of Jamaica and in 1658 another Spanish force landed but was defeated at the decisive battle at Rio Nuevo. In 1656 approximately 1,600 immigrants arrived and settled around Port Morant. In an effort to settle the island Cromwell issued his famous proclamation, which granted land to British citizens who were willing to settle on the island. The Spanish were forced to flee the island but not before freeing the slaves who took to the hills where they remained a constant thorn in the side of the English. Grab a bite to eat at the local Jerk Pit or a refreshing drink at the bar before heading back to your hotel or cruise ship.It was not until 1655, however, that the Spanish were driven from the island by Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables. Your tour will take you to a final stop in Mile End - a district where all the slaves from Lodge Yard lived. Learn about the fiercest battle between the Spanish and the British in a bid to capture Jamaica followed by a journey into the rainforest along the parish border to Lodge - a former slave district once known as 'Lodge Yard' - where a slave plantation was located. After taking in the beautiful scenery, you will be taken to the Rio Nuevo Battle Site and Museum where you will then experience the brutal instruments of slavery, a well as the ruins of a Taino settlement. Learn about the way of life of the Tainos, the first Jamaican settlers and compare how Jamaicans presently live.Īfter your pick up, travel along the picturesque north coast of Jamaica to the famous 'Fire Fly Look Out,' a spot used by the famous Captain Morgan to identify the ships he would later plunder in Port Royal. Your tour will take you on a journey through time as far back as the 1600s and then to present Jamaican time. Enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna as you travel along the coast and into the hills.Experience how the native Jamaicans lives.See and witness the remains of the brutal slave trade and stand in the location where the fiercest battle was fought. Experience the journey taken by Tainos, African slaves, slave traders, Pirates, British Army & the Spanish Army over 100 years ago.

Battle slaves jamaica