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Published on Taipei Times http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2007/03/03/2003350877 Globe trotting: Jamaica 世界走透透 - 牙買加 Saturday, Mar 03, 2007,Page 14 Glorious mountain ranges, world-famous and innovative music, and pristine beaches ... Jamaica has it all. Come take a closer look at the land of wood and water. 壯麗的山巒，享譽全球的獨創音樂與純淨沙灘‥‥‥牙買加坐擁這一切。讓我們一同來探索這個山與海的國度。 A closer look 說古論今 Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. It is largely tropical and mountainous. The Blue Mountain range on the island is famous for the coffee beans produced there, which are sold all over the world. The Arawak or Taino tribes from South America came to Jamaica between 4000BC and 1000BC and named the island Xaymaca. While these native people were nearly wiped out when Europeans arrived, their influence on Jamaican food, medicine and art are evident to this day. When Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus landed on Jamaica in 1494, he named the island Santiago. The British seized the island in 1655 and renamed it Jamaica. Under the British, Jamaica became a major sugar producer, eventually exporting nearly 77,000 tones of sugar cane every year. The British brought large numbers of African slaves and some Indian and Chinese indentured servants. Descendents of all three groups still live in Jamaica. The British ended slavery in Jamaica in 1838, and the island became independent in 1962. It is still a member of the British Commonwealth and retains close ties with Britain. Jamaica is famous for its cultural richness. Reggae and ska both originated there, and Jamaican dances have also become famous worldwide. Jamaican meals make heavy use of corn, seafood, waterfowl and cassava, a pototato-like vegetable. Because of its size, development and natural beauty, Jamaica is also a popular tourist destination. Maybe you'll get a chance to check it out one day! 牙買加是加勒比海第三大島，屬熱帶氣候與多山地形。島上的藍山以盛產咖啡豆聞名，銷售遍及世界各地。 西元前四千年至西元前一千年間，南美的阿拉瓦克人或泰諾人來到牙買加，將這座島嶼命名為「Xaymaca」。雖然當地原住民在歐洲人抵達後幾乎慘遭屠殺滅種，但他們對牙買加飲食、醫藥與藝術的影響，迄今仍隨處可見。 西班牙探險家克里斯多佛．哥倫布於一四九四年抵達牙買加，將這座島命名為「Santiago」。英國人在一六五五年掌管這座島後，將它重新命名為「Jamaica」。 在英國統治下，牙買加成為糖的大宗產地，每年出口近七萬七千噸的蔗糖。英國人將大量非州黑奴、部分印度及中國的約聘傭工帶入牙買加。這三大族群的後裔現今仍居住於此。 英國於一八三八年終結奴役牙買加，牙買加終於一九六二年獲得獨立。牙買加迄今仍是大英國協的會員國，與英國關係密切。 牙買加素以文化豐富聞名。雷鬼樂與斯卡樂都起源於此，牙買加舞曲也享譽全球。牙買加食物中常見玉米、海鮮、水鳥、樹薯與馬鈴薯之類的蔬菜。 由於牙買加位處小島、已開發並坐擁自然美景，也是熱門觀光景點。或許有一天你也有機會暢遊牙買加！ （翻譯：賴美君）
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