Historic Jacko Steps
An Adventure Packed Activity, which begins in the village of Bells, where the hike down the awesome Layou River Gorge starts to arrive at the trail leading to the historical Jacko Steps.
These steps were carved into a mountain by the Maroons (escaped slaves) in the 1760s.
The Maroons used the steps to get to and from their hide outs in the mountains.
The trail begins with a steep climb up the Jacko steps and through the rainforest, finally descending back down into the Layou River.
The Jacko Steps were named after a Maroon bearing that name, local historian Dr. Lennox Honychurch give an overview of the Jacko Steps and famous maroon
"The maroons of Jacko's camp cut high steps out of the side of the cliff surrounding Jacko Flats so as to ascend the plateau more easily.
The steps were designed in a way to give security to those above and to provide control over those attempting to scale the cliff. The historian Thomas Atwood describes these steps in his book of 11791.
Each step was high above the other, forcing people to pull themselves up at every stage.
When the pioneer planter A. Campbell bought the land in the 1980's, he got workers to cut each step at a lower level for more easy access and he ran cables through iron loops alongside for added safety.
The cables are gone but the steps may still be visited.
Jacko
One of the most important maroon chiefs commanding camps of escaped slaves in the center of the island during the period of slavery.
Born in Africa, Jacko (also written Jacco) escaped from Beaubois Estate (Castle Comfort) soon after his transportation to Dominica in the late 1760's. He established himself and his followers on a plateau near the present day village of Bells.
He was the main strategist for much of the maroon activity in Dominica during the Maroon wars of the 1780's and 1810's.
When Governor Ainslie launched his big offensive against the maroons in 1812, Jacko's camp was one of the main targets.
On 12 July 1814 ageing Jacko was surrounded and killed after a desperate resistance.
Reports at the time said that he had been in the forest " for upward of forty years." Five leaders of his camp surrendered and the loss of Jacko's leadership was a blow to the morale of the maroons".
Time: 4-5 hours
This activity should not be attempted by persons with heart conditions, back or knee injuries.
These steps were carved into a mountain by the Maroons (escaped slaves) in the 1760s.
The Maroons used the steps to get to and from their hide outs in the mountains.
The trail begins with a steep climb up the Jacko steps and through the rainforest, finally descending back down into the Layou River.
The Jacko Steps were named after a Maroon bearing that name, local historian Dr. Lennox Honychurch give an overview of the Jacko Steps and famous maroon
"The maroons of Jacko's camp cut high steps out of the side of the cliff surrounding Jacko Flats so as to ascend the plateau more easily.
The steps were designed in a way to give security to those above and to provide control over those attempting to scale the cliff. The historian Thomas Atwood describes these steps in his book of 11791.
Each step was high above the other, forcing people to pull themselves up at every stage.
When the pioneer planter A. Campbell bought the land in the 1980's, he got workers to cut each step at a lower level for more easy access and he ran cables through iron loops alongside for added safety.
The cables are gone but the steps may still be visited.
Jacko
One of the most important maroon chiefs commanding camps of escaped slaves in the center of the island during the period of slavery.
Born in Africa, Jacko (also written Jacco) escaped from Beaubois Estate (Castle Comfort) soon after his transportation to Dominica in the late 1760's. He established himself and his followers on a plateau near the present day village of Bells.
He was the main strategist for much of the maroon activity in Dominica during the Maroon wars of the 1780's and 1810's.
When Governor Ainslie launched his big offensive against the maroons in 1812, Jacko's camp was one of the main targets.
On 12 July 1814 ageing Jacko was surrounded and killed after a desperate resistance.
Reports at the time said that he had been in the forest " for upward of forty years." Five leaders of his camp surrendered and the loss of Jacko's leadership was a blow to the morale of the maroons".
Time: 4-5 hours
This activity should not be attempted by persons with heart conditions, back or knee injuries.
Po Box 1652
Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica
Telephone Numbers:
767 448 4850
767 448 1660
767 448 3517 After hours
USA : 561 210 5825
UK: 020 300 23605
Toll Free: 866 880 0508
USA Fax: 561.208.6672
Local Fax: 1.767 448 8486
Mobile: 767 235 3517
Email: KHATTS TOURS
United States Representative
Karen Makvandi
Tel: 561-929-7400
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