Arawaks from South America were the first to inhabit Jamaica. They were wiped out when the Spanish colonized the island in 1510 by disease, slavery and war.
The British took over in 1865 and some slaves fled to the mountains and formed a group called the Maroons.
The majority of the population are Protestant. Jamaica has more churches than any other country.
There are 8 different native species of snake. They are all non venomous.
