The "Joy and Sorrow" Lakes of Moneague.
The lakes at Moneague, which were a familiar feature to many earlier generations, appeared once more, in the new century, in 2005-6. I hope that this brief survey of their earlier history may be of some interest.
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Twice during the 20th century lakes appeared at Moneague in St. Ann of such considerable size that they could be used as major recreational facilities. On these two occasions, in 1917 and 1934, there were many accounts in the Daily Gleaner of boating and other entertainment activities at Moneague, and also discussion of the history and origins of the lakes. As well as these positive reports, there were also accounts of more negative aspects such as destruction of property, the loss of livelihood and loss of life resulting from the rising waters which were caused, it seemed, by the heavy rains, storms and hurricanes of the preceding years. |
early references
The existence of lakes or ponds in the Moneague area had been recorded from the early years of the British presence in Jamaica, although it must be assumed that both the Spaniards, and earlier the Tainos, had also been aware of their existence. Stanley’s map of 1678 indicates a "Tortois pond" and other maps up to the end of the 18th century also indicate a pond or ponds, and specifically a Turtle Pond or Ponds. Sir Hans Sloane in his History of 1707 refers to "'Lagunas', or great Ponds" and Edward Long's History of 1774 speaks of "a large Lake of immense depth". In a letter to the Gleaner in January 1917 Oscar Plummer wrote:
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"It may further interest your readers to know that in 1723, Mr. Job Williams, of St. Mary and St. Ann, writing to his friend, Mr. George Balch of Bristol, invited him to come and recoup his health in the the Garden of the Western Paradise, where he would gather new lungs by inhaling the healing perfume of aromatic plants wafted o’er the Monesca of the Indians from whence could be seen the placid waters of an inland lake, 'a smile of the Great Spirit.' Moneague is said to be the 'Monesca' or 'Monkey Hill' of the Indians."
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The name
That explanation of the name Moneague was challenged by three other explanations given in the Gleaner in 1934: A. S. Byles said that it was probably a corruption of two Spanish words "monte" and "agua", therefore meaning mountain water, which explanation was slightly modified by G. R Machado who suggested that it came from the Spanish word "Managua" meaning a place where there is water; J. L. Peietersz thought that it probably came from the word "manigua" commonly used by the Spanish in Cuba for bush or jungle. Plummer also referred to the lake appearing in 1780 "after the great storm'', tantalizingly deciding to give no further information, but this appearance of the lake was also mentioned by H. E. Henderson-Davies in 1934.
That explanation of the name Moneague was challenged by three other explanations given in the Gleaner in 1934: A. S. Byles said that it was probably a corruption of two Spanish words "monte" and "agua", therefore meaning mountain water, which explanation was slightly modified by G. R Machado who suggested that it came from the Spanish word "Managua" meaning a place where there is water; J. L. Peietersz thought that it probably came from the word "manigua" commonly used by the Spanish in Cuba for bush or jungle. Plummer also referred to the lake appearing in 1780 "after the great storm'', tantalizingly deciding to give no further information, but this appearance of the lake was also mentioned by H. E. Henderson-Davies in 1934.
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19th century
The ponds also appear on maps published in the 19th century and it is at the beginning of that century that accounts begin to appear of occasions on which much larger bodies of water appeared quite rapidly in the area.
In 1810-11 a large lake estimated at some 3000 acres developed. Reportedly the lake covered a "very valuable sugar work" and other buildings, the tops of some of them still appearing above the water. Much valuable land was inundated, and several other ponds appeared in the surrounding regions. On this occasion, as later, canoes and boats were taken to the lake to "afford a pleasant amusement". Another writer referred to the view of the lake from Walton School:
- "… the prospect of such an immense sheet of water, interspersed with small islands covered with palm and other trees, is picturesque and romantic beyond description, and considerably heightened by the abundance of wild fowl skimming about the surface of the lake."
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early 20th century
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The lakes at Moneague even appeared in a Gleaner cartoon in 1934, about some now long-forgotten municipal issue; six members of the K.S.A.C.* (three Black, one Brown, two White?) are shown urging the unfortunate Mayor, Sir George Seymour Seymour, to jump into the 'Colleague Lakes' where the 'Water Board' is bobbing on the surface. The Mayor is secured by a rope around his neck (he is wearing a very fashionable swim suit!) and his colleagues are shouting 'Jump Off Georgie! If yo born fe heng, yo can’t drown; if yo born fe drown, yo can’t heng!!'
Lakes at Moneague, Jamaica
* Kingston and St Andrew Corporation
Lakes at Moneague, Jamaica
* Kingston and St Andrew Corporation
Daily Gleaner, June 9, 1934
The Moneague Hotel
JIS News release
February 11, 2006.
Moneague, St. Ann.
The St. Ann Health Department is warning members of the public not to participate in activities such as boating, fishing and vending in the Moneague 'lake' area of the parish, which has been affected by rising waters. "The Moneague lake is highly contaminated, as several pit latrines have been submerged, pig pens and poultry houses have been washed out and treated effluent from two sewerage plants is being emptied into sections of the lake," Granville McKenzie, chief public health inspector at the St. Ann Health Department, has pointed out.
February 11, 2006.
Moneague, St. Ann.
The St. Ann Health Department is warning members of the public not to participate in activities such as boating, fishing and vending in the Moneague 'lake' area of the parish, which has been affected by rising waters. "The Moneague lake is highly contaminated, as several pit latrines have been submerged, pig pens and poultry houses have been washed out and treated effluent from two sewerage plants is being emptied into sections of the lake," Granville McKenzie, chief public health inspector at the St. Ann Health Department, has pointed out.
