Robert Lalah, Assistant Editor - Features

Left: Lee is one chatty fellow. Talk to him and you'll find out all you ever wanted to know about Lover's Leap.   Right: This is the spot from which the enslaved lovers supposedly jumped to their death. - Robert Lalah photo

Now if you're the hopeless romantic type, then the legend behind the popular spot called Lover's Leap in St. Elizabeth is probably high on your list of favourite stories. We've all heard one version or another of the tale. Two slaves who fell madly in love, jumping to their death to avoid behind torn apart by their wicked masters. A more sappy love story would be hard to find and many people travel from all over the world just to visit the spot where the dreamy-eyed slaves supposedly jumped from.

But as in all things, there are the non-believers, and as was to be expected, their view of the whole affair is a little more - well - colourful. So I found out on a recent trip to Lover's Leap when I met up with one unassuming cynic with more than a mouthful to say.

Warm afternoon

I got to the spot about 3 o'clock on a warm afternoon and there were a few other people there just walking or standing around. I was minding my own business, looking over the cliff when suddenly I heard a voice behind me. "You can walk down deh you know." I turned around to face a slim man with a unique smile. He was wearing a black cap and a yellow shirt. "Yes man. Just follow a little road around the side and you can reach right down to the sea," the fellow said, walking closer to me. He wobbled slightly as he walked and squinted to keep the sun out of his eyes. I thought he made a funny picture. "Yes man. I live around here now for more than 47 years and I see all kinda people go and come," he said. "You just have to follow the road and go right down," he said pointing to the water.

"So tell me something. You believe all a dat?" he queried. I asked him what he was talking about. "Dat story what dem tell about slave and har man. Bout dem chuck off inna water fi love." Before I could answer, he continued. "Foolishness! Damn foolishness! Listen to me, nothing nuh go so! Nobody nah go jump from yah so. You think dem a idiot?"

He was shouting now and I started to wonder if he was blaming me for the story. "Dem only tell people dat. But from mi born mi never yet hear bout anybody a jump because dem in love. Dem wouldn't do that. Afta dem nuh fool fool. What I believe happen is dat dem did stand up pan di edge of the cliff and a strong breeze blow, and blow dem off inna di sea! Now dat make more sense," he said, shaking his head.

"Is either that or dem did lick dem foot pan a stone and tumble over."

Just then, a tall, slender man wearing spectacles walked up to us. "Howdy, howdy," he said to me and handed a cup filled with a pungent, clear liquid to the man I was speaking with. "Hold dis Lee. Mine you drop off though. You might haffi chain up youself," he said and walked away.

Now that I knew his name, I tried to get away. "Alright Lee, I'll talk to you later," said I and tried to slip away.

Trapped

But Lee would have none of it. "Look yah man. You is a scientist?" he asked. "Er, no" I said, realising that I was trapped. "Well, I woulda like one scientist fi come down yah, for up to now I cannot find a john crow nest inna di bush," he said. I scratched my head and wondered how the conversation had taken such a sudden and unexpected turn.

"Mi a run up and down round yah since mi a lilly bwoy and always see john crow. But I can never find him nest!. A so mi know seh john crow have sense. Him know how fi hide him nest!" he said, looking quite intense. "Yes man. Mi always can find di screech owl nest but neva di john crow nest," he said.

"I know this place well. I live around here for nearly 50 years. The sea rough though. You cannot swim down there. My uncle drownded when mi was a bwoy and from dat mi nuh too tarry near di water," he said.

"Mi used to go fishing, but the water get more dangerous since recent. The wave dem get stronger and now it nuh mek any sense fi go near di water," Lee said.

Small wedding party

He paused for a moment and turned around. A small wedding party had just arrived at the spot to take pictures. The groomsmen, all dressed in black suits with bow ties seemed to be having fun looking over at the water, more than 1,500 feet below. The bridesmaids were on the other side of the hill and most of them seemed scared to look over the edge.

"You can imagine, dem actually jump off dis!" said one of the younger men, his eyes wide. "Bwoy dem mussi did really in love fi do dat! Di girl must did hot!"

"Foolishness!" shouted Lee from out of nowhere. I saw my chance and walked away. The last I saw of Lee, he was asking a frightened looking woman in a bouffant white wedding dress if she believed anybody would have been stupid enough to dive to their death in the name of love.

Note to Lisa: It was like being on top of the world with you. Thanks again!

Send feedback to: robert.lalah@gleanerjm.com.