Jerking is an ancient process of preserving beef, pork, poultry, and fish that was used before the invention of refrigeration. On the mainland of North America, this process is popularly known as Jerky. The early Native Americans of the Caribbean, the Arawaks and Carib Indians, used local spices and a method of slowly cooking and smoking meats and fish over Pimento Wood. This method of jerking was later passed onto the Maroons, early runaway slaves, living in the interior of Jamaica. These Maroons added their own spices, further enhancing this unique form of barbequing. more... See more text