Enjoying the gush of cool water from Whitehorses waterfall in St. Thomas. - Photo by Avia Collinder

Avia Collinder, Outlook Writer

Located 26 miles from Kingston, Whitehorses waterfall, overlooking Rozelle beach in St. Thomas, provides a free way of cooling down that often proves irresistible to weary travellers.

In minutes, they can strip down to underclothes and stand under the pounding waters which gush mysteriously from the cliffs overlooking the road.

Margaret Morris, author of Tour Jamaica, notes that the nearby beach at Rozelle is eroded and somewhat dilapidated. But, the waterfall retains its allure.

Apparently, the waterfall, companion to the beach, got its name from a large estate owned by the Ethiopian Coptic Church called Whitehorses, and also a village adjoining of the same name. The author notes that development here stopped with the imprisonment in Miami of American Coptic leaders, including Brother Louv.

While the sect claimed that the smoking of marijuana was an aid to meditation, an integral part of their sacrament and their constitutional right, the U.S. government claimed that the church was a cover for drug trafficking.

Deserted

On the estate, there was a Coptic temple on the farm and also a complex of ancient mule and water mills. The place is now deserted.

One upon a time vendors in Whitehorse would offer travellers honey, Irish moss, ackees, naseberries and mangoes for sale.

Things have changed, but Whitehorses still combines the thrill of the waterfall, the river and the sea.

On the beach, there is little space to sunbathe, but the water, almost as clear as nearby fresh water streams, contains a seabed with colourful, collectible stones.