Word: jamaicas
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...always associated croquet with Victorian imperialism--from novels and movies about the British in Africa, heedlessly playing games on lush plantations. To play it in Jamaica, independent from Britain for only a quarter century, seemed unsettlingly appropriate. We were strangers in this country, foreigners whose money flowed freely into the overpriced attractions and cheaply made handicrafts. We gaped at the Landscape and reveled in the temperature...
Like much of Jamaica, Port Antonio, the closest town to the house where we stayed, is fairly depressed. The fifth largest city in the island nation, it was once a major West Indies port, a key stop on the banana trade route. The few central streets are lined with small stores, but on hot, humid, Languid days, most of the town's activity takes place in a bustling indoor-outdoor marketplace. Outside, stands offer groceries and producer. Inside, the market is divided into two areas, in one, Jamaicans purchase clothing and choose from among rows upon rows of shoes...
...Jamaica adopted the British parliamentary system upon its independence, but the country remains unstable, chafing under the weight of its depressed economy. We first entered Port Antonio in the midst of a political rally; the opposing candidate for prime minister stood with a microphone in the center square, shouting a stream of political slogans above the din of reggae music. A throng of people cheered restlessly. A few days later, the incumbent party won in a landslide...
...will take some time to build a fledgling nation from its third world position, to develop more industry and encourage competition. If Jamaica is to shed its political instability, it can't rely so much on the lazy attention of tourists who flood the cities and coastal towns, seeking a warm climate and a level grassy Terram, perfect for croquet...
...rules, it never would have happened. But it was our game, so we did what we want. Nobody really minded. It wasn't worth shopping for another croquet ball, or a replacement set; they didn't sell them in the marketplace, and besides, we wouldn't be back in Jamaica for a long time...