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 5^-Pr 
 
JAMAICA: 
 
 ITS HISTORY, CONSTITUTION, 
 
 AND 
 
 TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION : 
 
 WITH 
 
 GEOLOGICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. 
 
 (tcrntpileb for the u&t xrf <Schcrol0 
 
 JOHN JARRETT WOOD, 
 
 Government Inspector of Schools. 
 
 KINGSTON : 
 
 MCCARTNEY & WOOD, NO. 16, KING STREET. 
 
 1884. 
 
PRESERVATION 
 COPY ADDED 
 ORIGINAL TO BE 
 RETAINED 
 
 DEC 1 ? 1992 
 
PKEFACE. 
 
 For years past I have been urged to prepare a Class- 
 book of Jamaica for the use of Schools. After much 
 hesitation hoping that some one with more leisure than 
 I had to bestow on the work would undertake it I 
 began to compile a History and Description of the Island, 
 which I had nearly completed when two other volumes 
 appeared. On perusing them I find that they do not 
 supply the want of this volume, neither will it hinder 
 their usefulness : therefore I have ventured to put this 
 before the public. 
 
 The boundaries of Parishes, &c. have not been given, 
 because such knowledge is more easily acquired by a class 
 before the map. 
 
 No questions have been appended, because it is con- 
 sidered a very profitable exercise to require a class, with 
 book in hand, to frame questions on the chapters and 
 subjects in succession, and then, when questions have 
 been framed on given portions, to lay the book aside 
 and proceed to answer them in the pupil's own style. 
 This should be done in the usual Exercise Books. 
 
 My maps are obtainable, mounted and varnished, or 
 in sheets, or in book form ; and it is hoped that these 
 and the book will prove highly interesting and acceptable 
 to the youth of Jamaica, among whom I have so long 
 laboured. M136116 
 
IV. PREFACE. 
 
 I claim no merit for myself in the compilation, except 
 for some judgment in culling, as the book might have 
 been extended to double the size, and thus rendered unfit 
 for the purpose intended. My daughters, too, have wrought 
 at the compilation both of the book and map; and as to 
 the former we have been mainly indebted to Martin's 
 History of the West Indies, and to the Jamaica Hand- 
 Book. My labour has been chiefly that of a "gatherer 
 and disposer of other men's matter," but it is hoped that 
 the plan adopted will render the work both entertaining 
 and useful 
 
 If my efforts in the Schools for forty-two years past, 
 and this little work as well as any labour I may be 
 still spared to perform shall be found to have contributed 
 a little towards the social elevation and progress of the 
 youth of Jamaica and its dependencies, I shall not hav^ 
 lived in vain. 
 
 JNO. JARRETT WOOD. 
 
 ' MARGARET VILLA," 
 
 ST. ANDREWS, JAMAICA, 
 
 December, 1883. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 CHAP. I. FROM 1494 TO 1661 . . i 
 
 Do. II. FROM 1662 TO 1710 . . 12 
 
 Do. III. FROM 1711 TO 1830 . . .24 
 
 Do. IV. FROM 1831 TO 1865 . . 39 
 
 Do. V. FROM 1866 TO 1883 . . 54 
 
 Do. VI. POLITICAL CONSTITUTION . . 70 
 
 Revenue . . .82 
 
 Judicial Establishment . 83 
 
 Trade ... 84 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 CHAP. VII. LOCATION, AND NAMES OF PARISHES . 89 
 Do. VIII. PHYSICAL FEATURES AND GENERAL 
 
 STRUCTURE . 91 
 
 Do. IX. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY . . 92 
 
 1. Soils . . .92 
 
 2. Road Material .. . 94 
 
 3. Building Stone . . 94 
 
 4. Flag Stones fc . 95 
 
 5. Marbles . 95 
 
 6. Porphyries . 96 
 
 7. Granite . , .96 
 
 8. Ochres . . . 97 
 
 9. Quartzitic Sand . . 97 
 10. Clays . 97 
 n. Carbonaceous Shales 97 
 
 12. Water ... 97 
 
 13. Other Mineral Species . . 98 
 
 14. Metallic Minerals . . 99 
 
VI CONTEXTS. 
 
 PAQK 
 
 CHAP. X. MOUNTAIN RANGES . . .100 
 
 Do. XI. ELEVATIONS . . . 104 
 
 Do. XII. RIVERS AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION . 105 
 
 Do. XIII. CAVERNS . . . no 
 
 Do. XIV. MINERAL SPRINGS . . in 
 Do. XV. DESCRIPTION OP PARISHES: 
 
 1. Kingston . . .113 
 
 2. St. Andrew . . 123 
 
 3. St. Thomas . . .126 
 
 4. Portland . . . 129 
 
 5. St. Catherine . . .132 
 
 6. St. Mary . . . 136 
 
 7. Clarendon . . 137 
 
 8. St. Ann . . . 139 
 
 9. Manchester . . .142 
 10. St. Elizabeth . . 143 
 n. Trelawny . . .145 
 
 12. St James . . . 146 
 
 13. Hanover . . .149 
 
 14. Westmoreland . . 150 
 CHAP. XVI. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION . . 151 
 
 Need of Industrial Homes . 155 
 Do. XVII. STATISTICS OF ACREAGE AND POPULATION . 1 56 
 
 Do. XVIII. METEOROLOGY . . . 157 
 Do. XIX. DEPENDENCIES : 
 
 Cayman Islands . . 159 
 
 Turks and Caicos Islands . . 161 
 
 Morant and Pedro Quays . 162 
 
THE 
 
 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. FROM 1494 TO 1661. 
 
 1. JAMAICA, an island in the Caribbean Sea, is situated 
 between 17 43' and 18 32' N. lat., and 76 IF and 78 20' 50" 
 W. long., about 5,000 miles south-west of England ; 100 miles 
 west of Hayti or St. Domingo, and 90 miles south of Cuba ; 
 445 miles north of Carthagena ; 540 miles from Colon ; and 
 310 from Cape Gracios a Dios in the Mosquito Territory. 
 
 2. Jamaica was discovered by Columbus on the morning 
 of the 3rd of May, 1494, during his second expedition to the 
 Western Hemisphere, otherwise called the New World. The 
 island was found to be densely peopled with Indians, re- 
 sembling in appearance and language the inhabitants of the 
 contiguous mainland. Numerous canoes put off from the 
 shore to meet Columbus, and resistance was offered by a 
 large party of armed Indians when the Spanish boats pro- 
 ceeded to obtain soundings in the haven, now called Port 
 Maria. 
 
 3. The voyagers then entered another harbour, named by 
 them Ora Cabessa, and on experiencing a similar demonstra- 
 tion of opposition, several arbaletes* were discharged at the 
 Indians, who fled on witnessing the slaughter of their com- 
 panions, and permitted the quiet landing of Columbus, who 
 took formal possession of the island for his sovereign, 
 Ferdinand of Spain. 
 
 1 Cross-bows. 
 
HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 4. Columbus named t the island St. Jago (pronounced 
 
 ^santeahgo), in honour of St. James, the patron 
 of Spain ; but it has retained its original Indian name 
 of Xaymaca, signifying, in the language of Florida, abundance 
 of wood and water hence it is often referred to as the Isle 
 of Springs. 
 
 5. The Admiral remained ten days among the astonished 
 natives, and then, on the 18th May, 1494, sailed for Cuba. On 
 the 22nd June he again approached Jamaica, off Bio Bueno, 
 and surveyed the coast (without landing) till the 20th August, 
 when he reached San Miguel, now Cape Tiburon. 
 
 6. For eight years from this period nothing more was heard 
 of Jamaica, and the peaceful Indians were yet a little while 
 left in the tranquil occupation of their happy home. On the 
 14th July, 1502, Columbus, then on his fourth voyage, sailed 
 from Hispaniola (Hayti) for Jamaica, but contrary and 
 boisterous winds compelled his sheltering at Guanaja, or the 
 isle of Pines. 
 
 7. The succeeding year saw the first European settlement 
 on our present colony, the result of necessity rather than 
 choice. Returning from the disastrous expedition to Veragua, 
 Columbus (with his son and brother in two ships) was driven 
 for shelter to Maxaca, on the S. coast of Cuba ; whence, after 
 imperfectly repairing his vessels, he again put to sea, but was 
 forced by stress of weather, and in a sinking state, on an 
 uninhabited part of the N. coast of Jamaica, where neither 
 water nor provisions were procurable. 
 
 8. Once more the intrepid navigator turned his shattered 
 prows to the faithless deep : the trade wind drove him down 
 the coast to the westward, and at St. Ann's Bay, (called by 
 the devout and weather-beaten mariner Santa Gloria), the 
 sinking vessels were run on shore for the purpose of preserving 
 the lives of the almost exhausted adventurers, who, protected 
 by a reef of rocks, lashed the wrecks together, and beneath a 
 canvas awning, found present shelter and repose. 
 
 9. Friendly communications were opened with the un- 
 suspecting Indians, who supplied the shipwrecked seamen with 
 
FROM 1494 TO 1661. 3 
 
 abundance of provisions in exchange for beads, bells, or other 
 trifles. Columbus acted on the fears of the Indians by 
 threatening them with the Divine vengeance unless his wants 
 were all complied with ; and told them that an eclipse, which 
 he knew was on the point of taking place, would be the signal 
 of destruction. 
 
 10. Columbus despatched Diego Meudez, the secretary to 
 the squadron, in company with a Genoese named Fieski, in 
 two canoes (each furnished with six Castilians and ten 
 Indians) to Ovando, the Governor of Hispaniola, then the 
 capital of the Spanish western isles, distant 200 leagues from 
 Jamaica, and with a strong adverse wind in their course. 
 
 11. Ovando, the Governor of Hispaniola, was the inveterate 
 enemy of Columbus, and availed himself of the occasion of 
 his rival's misfortune to heap insult and injury on the 
 unfortunate Admiral ; a vessel was despatched from Hispan- 
 iola to mock the sufferers with condolence and ironical regrets 
 of inability to afford assistance, the commander of the 
 reconnoitering ship (which purposely lay outside the reefs of 
 Santa Gloria) having been expressly selected on account of 
 his being the personal enemy of Columbus. 
 
 12. The suffering Spaniards, under the impression that 
 they were neglected by the Yiceregal and Home Authorities 
 by reason of their fidelity to Columbus, mutinied, at the 
 instigation of the brothers Pooras (one a commander, and the 
 other a military treasurer). Columbus was accused of 
 witchcraft, and several attempts to assassinate him as he 
 lay confined to his bed with the gout were only frustrated 
 by the bravery and presence of mind of his brother Bar- 
 
 ' tholoinew. 
 
 13. The mutineers seized on ten canoes which the Admiral 
 had been preparing, plundered the natives of provisions 
 wherever they could be found, forced several to accompany 
 them in their efforts to cross the sea to Hispaniola, and then 
 threw the islanders overboard with their baggage, to lighten 
 the fragile barques in which they several times endeavoured 
 to gain the seat of supreme government. 
 
4 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 14. When compelled to return by the storm to Jamaica, 
 it was but to laj waste and destroy the unoffending Indians, 
 and to make fresh attacks on Columbus and his faithful 
 followers. At length, after losing several of their comrades 
 in a battle with the Admiral's friends, headed by Diego 
 Columbus, the renegades sued for permission to return to 
 their allegiance. 
 
 15. A month later (28th June 1504), Columbus bade a 
 final adieu to the Jamaica shores, in vessels prepared for his 
 relief by Mendez and Fieski, whom he had despatched from 
 Santa Gloria to Hispaniola and Spain (as before stated) soon 
 after the shipwreck of his vessels. 
 
 16. The peaceful Indians were now left for a brief period 
 in the quiet possession of their lovely isle, but in three years 
 after the death of Christopher Columbus i.e. in 1509 the 
 Spanish Court divided the Darien Government between 
 Alfonzo d'Ojeda, and Diego Nicnesa, authorizing them jointly 
 and severally to make what use they pleased of the unoccupied 
 island of Jamaica, as a garden whence provisions might be 
 obtained, and as a nursery whence slaves might be procured 
 to work in the mines. 
 
 17. The result of such orders, in such times, may be easily 
 imagined. A contest arose between the provincial governors 
 who should make the most of the unfortunate islanders and 
 their country ; towns and villages were laid waste and burned ; 
 the slightest resistance was revenged with indiscriminate 
 slaughter ; the caciques, or chiefs, murdered in cold blood ; 
 the women, who tempted the lust of the invaders, became 
 victims to their sensuality ; tortures of the most infernal 
 nature were resorted to for the purpose of forcing a discovery 
 of that which the Spaniards eagerly thirsted for gold ; and 
 the adults and children of Jamaica who were not fortunate 
 enough to escape to the recesses of the mountains, there to 
 perish, or suffer from lingering famine, were borne away into 
 captivity, to wear out a brief existence in the rayless mines, 
 where their merciless oppressors sought wealth at an in- 
 calculable sacrifice of human life and misery. 
 
FROM 1494 TO 1661. 5 
 
 18. While the rival governors, Diego and Nicnesa, were 
 disputing about the adjudication of Jamaica, Diego Columbus 
 (the son of the great navigator) stepped in to assert his prior 
 claim, and accordingly despatched, in 1509, Don Juan 
 d'Esquimel, with seventy men, to take possession of the 
 island, and form a settlement at Santa Gloria (now Port 
 Maria), a spot sacred to his filial affections, by reason of the 
 shipwreck and sufferings of his father. 
 
 19. The seat of government was fixed on the banks of a 
 small rivulet, termed Sevilla Nueva, 1 to commemorate the 
 successful termination of his suit against the crown, as 
 recently decided by the Council of the Indies ; and Ferdinand, 
 another son of Columbus, was despatched from Spain to 
 establish a monastery, and assist in the extension of the new 
 colony. 
 
 20. The unwarlike Indians did not long offer resistance 
 to the government which they found disposed to settle 
 amongst them ; they sank by degrees into the condition of 
 serfs and slaves, and were regarded as mere ministers to the 
 pleasures of their white brethren, who had now become the 
 sole possessors of the soil. 
 
 21. San Domingo, then in all its glory, graced by the 
 presence of royal blood, and many of the nobility of Castile, 
 and the seat of fashion in the New World, communicated its 
 luxuriousness and taste to Sevilla Nueva (now called Sevilla 
 d'Oro, from the gold brought thither by the natives), and a 
 splendid city arose, rivalling in magnificence the towns of the 
 mother country, but of which not a vestige remains, save the 
 memory of the name, the sugar estate, on the site of the 
 former capital, being still termed Seville. 
 
 22. The chroniclers of the day represent the government 
 of Don Juan d'Esquimel as mild in character towards the 
 natives, and whom he encouraged in the culture of cotton, 
 the introduction of the sugar cane, and the vine (claret was 
 then made in Jamaica), which flourished in the virgin soil, 
 
 1 New Seville. 
 
6 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 and fruitful valleys and savannahs of the island. The cotton 
 wool was celebrated in commerce for its quality as well as 
 quantity; and the beautiful fabrics woven therefrom by the 
 Indians became a source of wealth to the Spaniards, which, 
 if they had been attended to, would have proved of more 
 lasting value than the precious metals ; to the avaricious 
 search for which everything else was sacrificed. 
 
 23. Unhappily for the Indians, the rule of Don Esqnimel 
 was brief; he died, and was buried at Sevilla d'Oro, the 
 beautiful bay on the north side of the island (now called St. 
 Ann's Bay). Don Esquimel bequeathed to posterity the 
 remembrance of a name whose character offered a bright 
 contrast to that of his sanguinary successors. Francisco de 
 Garay, a Spaniard, who had long been a fortunate partner of 
 the celebrated Diaz in the famed mine of St. Christopher, 
 in Hispaniola, and whose insatiable avarice and cruelty 
 were notorious, succeeded Esquimel as lieutenant of Diego 
 Columbus in the government of Jamaica, which, in 1519 
 (ten years after its settlement), had risen so rapidly as to have 
 been enabled to fit out three vessels, manned by two hundred 
 and seventy men, to endeavour to take possession of a territory 
 named Panuco, on the mainland. 
 
 24. In 1521, Sevilla d'Oro began to send off branches from 
 the parent stock, and other new towns were founded one 
 on the Bay of Bluefields, named Oristan, from a place in 
 Sardinia ; the other, Melilla (supposed to be on the site where 
 Marthse-brse now stands), so called after a small town in 
 Barbary ; and Puerto Esquivella, now called Old Harbour, 
 where a ship-building yard had been established. The death 
 of Diego Columbus (who, in 1523, had founded St. Jago de la 
 Yega, or St. Jago of the Plains, to distinguish it from St. Jago 
 de Cuba), in 1526, checked the improvement of the island ; and 
 the cruelties of the Governor, Don Pedro d'Esquimel whom 
 Las Casas declares to have been the greatest destroyer of the 
 Indians added to the destructive piratical warfare carried on 
 by French corsairs, under the name of Flibustiers all tended 
 to cloud the rising and prosperity of Jamaica. 
 
FKOM 1494 TO 1661. 7 
 
 25. The intelligent Author of the Annals of Jamaica, the 
 Eev. G. W. Bridges, s/iys that the consequence of such 
 proceedings was, that the settlement of Oristan was destroyed 
 in its infancy, Melilla was abandoned almost as soon as built, 
 and the capital became the repeated prey of a lawless banditti. 
 The erection of its buildings (many of them the creation of 
 monastic munificence) was suspended its trade interrupted 
 and such as were not bound by office to the seat of govern- 
 ment deserted their half finished walls to seek a safer retreat 
 in the southern districts of the island. 
 
 26. The Jamaica Almanac says that St. Jago de la Vega, 
 or Spanish Town, was founded by Diego Columbus in 1523 ; 
 but Mr. Bridges states its origin to have been owing to the 
 affrighted Spaniards, who fled over the mountain range in 
 1538, in order to find a place of security from the plundering 
 attacks of the French flibustiers, or corsairs ; while supersti- 
 tion suggested the name of the capital, under the impression 
 that the patron saint of the island had been offended at the 
 name (St. Jago) given by Columbus having been outlived by 
 the native cognomen, Xaymaca, or Jamaica. 
 
 27. Security of person and property, the mainspring of 
 national wealth and happiness, soon contributed to raise St. 
 Jago de la Vega into a flourishing city : the neighbouring 
 savannahs were quickly cultivated, the manufacture of sugar 1 
 rapidly extended, and, in sixteen years from its foundation 
 (1555), the capital of Jamaica gave the title of Marquis to the 
 grandson of the extraordinary mariner who may be truly said 
 to have discovered a New World, for the purpose of stimulating 
 into renewed energy the enterprize and intelligence of the Old. 
 
 28. The wars between Charles V. and Henry of France 
 were carried on in America by the latter under piratical 
 leaders ; and, after a desperate attack of the flibustiers, in 
 1554, who massacred all the inhabitants, sculptured arches 
 and bare walls alone remained as evidence of the pristine 
 splendour of the once celebrated city of Se villa d'Oro. In 
 
 1 In 1523 there were thirty sugar mills in operation. 
 
8 HISTOKY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 1558 it is stated that the native inhabitants of Jamaica had 
 entirely perished. Gage, writing in 1637, says, " This island 
 was once very populous, but it is now almost destitute of 
 Indians, for the Spaniards have slain in it more than 60,000 ; 
 insomuch that women, as well here as on the continent, did 
 kill their children before they had given them birth, that the 
 issues of their bodies might not serve so cruel a nation." 
 
 29. The Spaniards cultivated the lands in the neighbourhood 
 of St. Jago de la Vega, by means of the few slaves which they 
 were enabled to purchase. In 1580, owing to the junction of 
 the crowns of Spain and Portugal, the territorial right of 
 Jamaica was vested in the royal house of Braganza, and the 
 Portuguese who emigrated to the island gave new life and 
 vigour to the settlement. In 1587 Jamaica was so overrun 
 with the breed of horned cattle, swine, and horses, originally 
 imported from Hispaniola, that a considerable trade arose in 
 provisions, lard, and hides ; the cultivation of sugar, which 
 had been neglected after the destruction of Se villa d'Oro, was 
 resumed ; and ginger, tobacco, and other articles were added 
 to the planter's commercial stock. 
 
 30. In 1(305, the famed wealth of Jamaica led to a preda- 
 tory incursion on the settlement by Sir Anthony Shirley, 
 who was cruising in the neighbourhood with a large fleet, 
 but the invaders retired after plundering only those parts 
 of the island that were most accessible. Colonel or Captain 
 William Jackson made a descent upon Jamaica in 1644, from 
 the Windward Islands, at the head of five hundred men ; the 
 Spaniards fought bravely at Passage Fort, but were beaten, 
 and compelled to pay a large sum of money for the preserva- 
 tion of the capital. 
 
 31. Little or indeed nothing authentic is known of the 
 internal history of the island up to the period of the British 
 Conquest in 1655 ; the acquisitions of Spain on the Continent, 
 and the vast quantity of precious metals thence derived, soon 
 induced the neglect of the insular possessions of the mother 
 country for the sake of the more showy but less substantial 
 advantages derived from the conquest of Peru and Mexico. 
 
FEOM 1494 TO 1661. 9 
 
 All accounts, however, agree in representing the Hidalgos 1 of 
 Jamaica as leading a life of slothful luxuriousness ; and for the 
 latter fifty years the north side of the island had been 
 abandoned, and allowed to be covered with dense woods. 
 
 32. The population at the time of the British Conquest 
 was stated by Yenables to be no more than 1,500 Spaniards 
 and Portuguese, with about an equal number of Mulattoes 
 and negro slaves ; and the higher class of inhabitants was 
 composed of only eight families, who may be said to have 
 divided the country between them into eight hatos or districts. 
 
 33. Cromwell, no less with a desire to rid himself of those 
 disaffected towards his government, than with a hope of 
 humbling the power of the Spanish Court, which favoured the 
 restoration of Charles aided by the popular feeling in England 
 against the Spaniards for the condemnation of six hundred 
 peaceable English settlers at St. Christopher's, to work in 
 subterraneous bondage in the mines of Mexico in 1629 
 anxious to avenge the murder of a small English Colony who 
 had quietly settled on the unoccupied island of Tortuga eight 
 years after the peace of 1630, and a repetition of the same 
 bloody tragedy twelve years afterwards at Santa Cruz, in 
 which, as at Tortuga, even the women and children were put 
 to the sword and urged, moreover, by a desire to establish the 
 maritime supremacy of England, by the foundation of colonies, 
 and by putting an end to the exclusive right of navigating the 
 American seas, as claimed by Ferdinand and Isabella in- 
 fluenced, we say, by these and other motives, Cromwell fitted 
 out a large armament, which he placed under the joint com- 
 mand of General Yenables and Admiral Penn, with three 
 controlling Commissioners, for the purpose of seizing on 
 Hispaniola at the moment of declaring hostilities against 
 Spain in Europe. 
 
 34. The expedition was hastily despatched, the ranks of the 
 army filled from the gaols and prisons in England and Ireland, 
 and the fleet so hurried out to sea that the store-ships were 
 
 1 Spanish Grandees- 
 
10 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 left behind. Barbadoes was the rendezvous for the expedition, 
 which, to the number of 3;000 soldiers, including a troop of 
 horse (raised at the expense of the Barbadians), with 30 sail of 
 vessels, one half victuallers, departed from Barbadoes 31st 
 March 1655. 
 
 35. At St. Christopher's the expedition was joined by 1,300 
 men, making, with those from Barbadoes, 5,000 volunteers, 
 whose grand aim was the plunder of the Spaniards. The 
 capture of Hispaniola was prevented by the vigilance of the 
 Spaniards, who slew 600 of the English, wounded 300, and 
 drove 200 into the woods. To make amends for this discom- 
 fiture, Jamaica was attacked by a force of 6,500 men on the 
 3rd of May 1655, after being one hundred and forty-six years 
 in the possession of Spain. Little resistance was offered, 
 negotiations were entered into for the British occupation, and 
 skilfully prolonged by the Spaniards until the latter removed 
 all their valuables, so that when St. Jago de la Vega was 
 entered by the British forces, about ten days after the landing, 
 nothing but bare walls was found. The inhabitants carried 
 off all their goods to the mountains, where, aided by their 
 slaves, and by occasional reinforcements from Cuba, they long 
 held out, but after some years were gradually annihilated, 
 pardoned, or permitted to emigrate. 
 
 36. Spain in 1658 vainly endeavoured to recover Jamaica. 
 Some skill and energy would have enabled her to do so, owing 
 to the disaffection and disorganization of the British army 
 and occupants ; but the rapid acquirement of wealth without 
 the aid of industry, and almost solely by means of violence 
 and craft, is as fatal to the strength and happiness of a nation 
 as it is to that of an individual, and the Spanish government, 
 after several unsuccessful efforts, abandoned all further pros- 
 pects of re-possessing themselves of the island. 
 
 37. During the early British occupation, much inconvenience 
 and distress (as is the case in all infant settlements) were 
 experienced. Some of the Spaniards and their negroes still 
 occupied the mountains. This was the origin of the Maroons ; 
 and martial law was the sole iudicature for a series of years, 
 
FROM 1494 TO 1661. 11 
 
 during which period little progress was made in cultivation, 
 the soldiers being disinclined to turn their swords into 
 ploughshares. Colonel D'Oyley, the Governor of Jamaica 
 in 1661, wrote to Secretary Nicholas that a party of soldiers 
 had just brought in from the mountains about ]00 negroes, 
 the remainder of some 2,000 who had infested the place since 
 their arrival: he adds, "the soldiers have received no pay 
 since they came." 
 
 38. It would appear that bloodhounds were now introduced 
 into Jamaica, and not, as was supposed, for the first time by 
 Lord Balcarras. The two following Jamaica orders respecting 
 bloodhounds and Bibles afford a curious picture of the man- 
 ners of the times: August 14, 1656, "An order, signed 
 Edward D'Oyley, for the distribution to the army of 1,701 
 
 ,Bibles." August 26, 1659, "Order issued this day unto Mr. 
 
 Peter Pugh, Treasurer, to pay unto John Hoy the sum of 
 . twenty pounds sterling, out of the impost-money, to pay for 
 ' fifteene doggs, brought by him for the hunting of the negroes." 
 
 39. Under the government of Colonel D'Oyley, Jamaica 
 became the headquarters of the pirates, or buccaneers, who 
 infested these seas, and derived inordinate wealth from the 
 plunder of the Spanish colonies, and the fleets laden with the 
 precious metals on their return to Europe. It is stated that 
 the tables and household utensils of the colonists were of 
 silver and gold, and their horses sometimes shod with the 
 former metal, loosely nailed on, to indicate the abundance 
 of riches, and contempt for slight losses of wealth. 
 
 40. Negro slaves appear to have been imported by the 
 British in pursuance of the policy of their predecessors, and 
 in 1659 the population of the island was rated at 4,500 whites, 
 and 1,400 negroes. Of the white population a chief proportion 
 must have been outlaws and soldiers ; for, according to the 
 Board of Trade and State Paper Office Eecords, "two 
 hundred of the rebels taken at Sedgemoor were transported 
 to Jamaica." In 1656 the Council of State in England voted 
 that 1000 girls, and as many young men, should be listed in 
 Ireland and sent to Jamaica. The troops in that year were 
 
 B 
 
12 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 estimated at 4,500 foot and 800 horse. And the military 
 strength of the island in 1662 consisted of five regiments, 
 containing 2,083 men-at-arms. 
 
 41. That emigration from England began early is never- 
 theless correct. Sir Thomas Modyford, in a letter dated 
 Jamaica, January 30th, 1664, mentions the number of settlers 
 recently arrived at 987, of which 855 came from England, 
 and the remainder from Barbadoes. At the Restoration 
 Charles sought to allay the feuds existing between the 
 Republican and Royalist parties in Jamaica ; the restraints 
 of martial law were abolished, Courts of Session formed, and 
 a Council of twelve, elected by the inhabitants, convened to aid 
 the government. A partial survey took place ; 12 districts 
 were marked out ; laws framed by the council for the govern- 
 ment of the island ; and taxes levied for the maintenance 
 thereof. 
 
 42. Every encouragement was held out to new planters ; and 
 the wise regulations of Cromwell, exempting planters or 
 ' adventurers' from paying excise or customs on any produce, &c. 
 exported to Jamaica, or imported from thence into the dominions 
 of the Commonwealth, for 10 years, was allowed ; together with 
 the abolition of hindrance or impressment on ships or mariners 
 bound for Jamaica. 
 
 CHAPTER II. FROM 1662 TO 1710. 
 
 1. On the accession of Lord Windsor to the chief authority 
 in September, 1662, a municipal government was formed ; 
 judges of session and magistracy appointed ; the militia 
 established ; the island divided into seven parishes, and patents 
 of land in free soccage granted. It is interesting to examine 
 the oiigin of our colonial legislatures. According to a letter 
 in the State Paper Office from Colonel (afterwards Sir Thomas) 
 Modyford, dated Barbadoes, February 16th, 1651, addressed 
 to Bradshaw (the regicide), the following suggestions occur 
 relative to the island sending representatives to Parliament : 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 13 
 
 "The great difficulty is, (which your wisdoms will easily 
 overcome,) how we shall have a representative with you in 
 your government and our parliament : to demand to have 
 burgesses with yours to sit and vote in matters concerning 
 England may seem immoderate ; but to desire that two 
 representatives be chosen by this island to advise and consent 
 to matters that concern this place, I presume may be both 
 just and necessary ; for if laws be imposed upon us without 
 our personall or implied consent, we cannot be accounted 
 better than slaves, which, as all Englishmen abhorre to see, so 
 I am confident you detest to have them. This is so cleare that 
 I shall not need to enforce it with argument, neither enter 
 upon particulars for the good of this place," &c. &c. It may 
 be gathered from this that the home authorities preferred 
 granting colonial legislatures to colonial representatives in the 
 British Parliament. 
 
 2. In January, 1664, the first assembly of Jamaica was 
 convened by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Charles Littleton, 
 in conformity with the power of his commission from England. 
 It consisted of 30 members, who chose a speaker (Mr. Robert 
 Freeman) the 20th of January, and continued their sittings to 
 the middle of February, then adjourned to May, and after- 
 wards resumed them at Port Royal ; thus dividing its sessions 
 between the seats of government and trade. 
 
 3. This early establishment of a popular legislative assembly 
 was attended with signal advantages ; laws suited to the 
 community were framed, taxes raised independent of the 
 Governor and parent state, and the acts of Assembly were 
 sent for confirmation to the King. 
 
 4. Disputes subsequently broke out between the Governor, 
 Sir Thomas Modyford, and the House of Assembly ; but those 
 who appreciate the blessing of legislative representation in 
 unison with taxation, will think lightly of differences between 
 the party desiring the exercise of uncontrollable authority, 
 when balanced by the calm and efficient power of a chamber 
 freely elected by the intelligence and wealth of a community. 
 
 5. Of Colonel Samuel Long, who nobly opposed the 
 
14 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 arbitrary measures of the Crown endeavoured to be enforced 
 through the then Governor, the Earl of Carlisle, in 1679 the 
 following notice occurs in a paper in the Board of Trade : 
 Nov. 23, 1676, "His Excellency, Lord Vaughan, having 
 acquainted the council of the present vacancy of the Chief 
 Justice's place, and that, in this emergency, he could not 
 propose any other than Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Long 
 unto them, wherein his Lordship desired their advice, all 
 unanimously declared that they were fully satisfied with the 
 great abilities of Lieutenant-Colonel Long to perform and 
 discharge the said trust and employment, and did approve 
 of his Excellency's choice." This distinguished colonist died 
 possessed of nearly 20,000 acres in Jamaica. His descendant, 
 Mr. Edward Long, was the accomplished and learned author 
 of the history of Jamaica. 
 
 6. For sixty-four years the House of Assembly of Jamaica 
 carried on a noble contest to secure the means of defending 
 itself against tyrannical acts on the part of the Crown, to 
 control the expenditure of their own supplies, and to resist 
 the imposition of a tax of 4J per cent, on the gross produce 
 of the island. 
 
 7. Up to 1670, when peace was ratified with Spain, Jamaica 
 was the headquarters and rendezvous of all the pirates, 
 corsairs, and buccaneers of the New World, encouraged by 
 many of the Governors of Jamaica. Sir Thomas Lynch, in 
 1664, considered the calling in of the privateers "a remote 
 and hazardous experiment." "If they cannot get English 
 commissions," he says, "they will get French or Portuguese, 
 although they be dangerous rogues." Sir Thomas Modyford, 
 in 1665, acknowledges the receipt of a letter from Lord 
 Arlington, directing that "privateers be handled quietly for 
 the future, and be reclaimed by degrees ; encouraging them 
 to return home and take service in H. M. fleet against the 
 Dutch." The celebrated, the notorious Morgan, as well as 
 other bandits, contributed to pour a vast flood of wealth into 
 Jamaica, the prize of their infamous marauding expeditions. 
 
 8 As the name of Morgan, the pirate, is so intimately 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 15 
 
 connected with the history of Jamaica, an island of which he 
 subsequently became the chief authority, some account of him 
 will be acceptable. This extraordinary adventurer was a 
 native of Wales, born in 1635, of a junior branch of the great 
 clan of the Morgans of Tredegar ; but by daring courage, 
 talents, and successes, became advanced to the dignity of 
 Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica. Having no inclination to 
 follow his father's agricultural pursuits, Morgan bade him 
 adieu, wandered ~to Bristol, and embarked for Barbadoes, 
 where, according to the custom of the times, he bound himself 
 as a servant, or sold his services, for the space of four years. 
 
 9. As soon, however, as he gained his freedom, Morgan 
 went to Jamaica, where the temptations held out for the rapid 
 acquirement of wealth induced him to join the West Indian 
 buccaneers, who considered their pursuits legitimate because 
 the Spaniards refused to be at peace with other nations 
 within the tropics, where they asserted Englishmen had no 
 right to settle. War was declared against the Spaniards, by 
 beat of drum, at Port Eoyal, 27th February 1666 ; and 
 Morgan, by his daring intrepidity, soon brought himself into 
 notice, made several successful cruises, and secured a share 
 of the spoil. 
 
 10. Seeing the excesses and improvidence of his companions, 
 he profited by the example, and lived so moderately, that 
 he soon amassed a sufficient sum of money to purchase a 
 vessel, in conjunction with some of his comrades, who elected 
 him their commander ; and he returned to Port Royal with 
 several prizes from the Bay of Campeche. Mansfeldt, the 
 "prince of pirates," who was then preparing a formidable 
 expedition against the Spaniards, pitched upon him to be his 
 vice-admiral ; and in a short time, with fifteen ships and 
 five hundred men, he stormed and plundered the island of St. 
 Catherine (Providence), thirty-five leagues from Ohagres 
 river ; and, after various successes in different places, next 
 proceeded, in 1668, with a fleet of nine ships and four hun- 
 dred and sixty men, against Puerto Bello. 
 
 11. This city was defended by three castles, two of which 
 
16 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 were so situated that no hostile boat could pass, and the town 
 itself was well garrisoned. It was night when he arrived, 
 and being acquainted with all the avenues to the city, he 
 sailed in canoes up the river to Puerto Pontin, where he 
 anchored, and, guided by one who had been a prisoner there, 
 reached Estera longa de Mar, whence he marched to the 
 outposts of the city. After securing the sentinel, he assailed 
 the castle with such resistless impetuosity, that the Governor 
 was compelled to submit. 
 
 12. Being unable to spare men to guard his prisoners, 
 Morgan is accused by the Spaniards of having enclosed them 
 ail in a large dungeon, fired the magazine, and blown up the 
 fortress with every Spaniard in it. They then forced the 
 commandant of the city into the remaining fort, who vainly 
 endeavoured, by an incessant cannonade, to prevent plunder- 
 ing of the town below ; but it had no other effect than to 
 urge them to make a quick and sanguinary despatch. The 
 buccaneers rifled the churches and houses, and stormed the 
 castle at the very mouth of its guns. The carnage of this 
 nocturnal conflict was dreadful. 
 
 13. After performing prodigies of valour, Morgan's men 
 became dispirited and faint ; but their courage was restored 
 by seeing the English colours waving over the third and only 
 remaining castle, which another party of these desperadoes 
 had successfully stormed. Our hero commanded the prisoners 
 they had taken from the religious houses, at the point of the 
 sword, to place the scaling ladders against the walls. The 
 Spanish soldier's duty prevailed over his superstition, and 
 many of the religieuse were slain. The pirates, however, 
 mounted the ladders, and the Spaniards, throwing down their 
 arms, begged for mercy. The commandant alone refused 
 to yield, and nobly met his fate in the presence of his wife 
 and daughter. 
 
 14. Every species of excess marked the footsteps of the 
 remorseless conquerors during fifteen successive days. . A 
 ransom of 100,000 pieces-of-eight 1 was demanded for the 
 
 1 Half Doubloon, or Eight Pesos = 1 13s. 4d., called a piece-of -eight. 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 17 
 
 preservation of the town, and paid. After levelling the 
 redoubts which had been raised by the Spaniards, and dis- 
 mounting their guns, the buccaneers returned to Jamaica 
 with a ransom and plunder of 250,000 pieces-of-eight 1 and 
 much merchandise. The chroniclers of the day narrate that, 
 on the sea shore at Port Eoyal, plate, jewels, and other rich 
 effects were literally piled beneath the eaves of the houses for 
 the want of warehouse room. But this immense wealth was 
 soon transferred to others ; and the pirates, reduced almost 
 to starvation, constrained their captain to put to sea again, 
 after a few short weeks of riotous debauchery. 
 
 15. Morgan was now at the head of a thousand desperate 
 fellows, and a fleet of fifteen vessels ; to which was added, it is 
 said, the Oxford frigate, commanded by Captain E. Collier, 
 sent by Charles II. to aid in the war against the Spaniards. 
 The fleet rendezvoused at the Isle de Vache, in Hispaniola ; 
 and Sir William Beeston and Esquemeling relate the follow- 
 ing almost incredible circumstance : A council of war was 
 held on board the Oxford on the 2nd January 1669. The 
 captains remained to dinner, and, while feasting, the frigate, 
 "by some unknown accident, blew up at once, and killed two 
 hundred and fifty men." "Admiral Morgan, and those 
 captains who sat on that side of the table that he did, 
 were saved ; but those captains on the other side were 
 killed." 
 
 16. This misfortune prevented an attack on Carthagena ; 
 but Macaicubo, with Gibraltar (on the Spanish main), was 
 again sacked, and the inhabitants underwent the same cruel 
 torture they experienced at the hands of Solonnois. Failing, 
 however, in this attempt to plunder them, the inhabitants 
 having concealed their valuables in the woods, the pirates, 
 wearied and vexed at their unusual ill fortune, retreated from 
 the town. They were waited for by the Spaniards, who 
 were prepared with three men-of-war to obstruct their pass- 
 age from the lake ; and even in this dilemma, when life and 
 
 1 833,333, 6s. 8d. 
 
18 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 death were in the event, Morgan's courage alone remained 
 unshaken. 
 
 17. He contrived a fire-ship with such ingenuity that it 
 was impossible for the enemy to recognise her as such. With 
 this he destroyed one of their vessels the second ran on 
 shore, and the remaining one became an easy prey to the 
 pirates. But though he had destroyed their fleet, the castle, 
 which they must pass, was impregnable. In vain did he 
 resort to his usual practice in exposing the nuns and friars 
 they had taken prisoners upon the deck, to restrain their 
 countrymen from firing. Finding it utterly useless, he had 
 recourse to a wily stratagem. 
 
 18. He withdrew out of the reach of the guns, and filling 
 his boats with men, they were ordered to row ashore, as if 
 with the design of landing ; but, instead of doing so, they 
 concealed themselves at the bottom of the boats, and the boats 
 returned apparently with only two or three men. After doing 
 this several times, the Spaniards, thinking they were going to 
 attack the Castle from the land, removed their guns from the 
 sea-side to the ramparts, leaving the former almost defenceless. 
 The pirates then, by moonlight, dropped down with the tide ; 
 when opposite the fort, spread every inch of canvas, and 
 saluted the mortified Spaniards as they passed with a few 
 shots, which the Governor, completely outwitted, was unable 
 to return. Thus again was Jamaica deluged with wealth, and 
 benefited by the prodigality of the pirates. 
 
 19. Morgan's reputation was now so great that he was 
 joined by several young men of family from England. After 
 a few months' peace, war was again proclaimed (2nd July 1670) 
 at Port Eoyal, against the Spaniards. Morgan received a 
 commission from the Governor to harass the enemy, and sailed 
 with a fleet of thirty-seven sail, carrying two thousand men-at- 
 arms, besides large crews of good sailors. St. Catherine was 
 recaptured, and kept as a place of retreat. Morgan's vice- 
 admiral (Broadly), with four ships and four hundred men, 
 gained possession (after losing one hundred men in killed 
 and wounded) of the town and castle of Chagres. 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 19 
 
 20. Morgan next sailed to Panama, which, after a desperate 
 conflict, he succeeded in taking possession of ; but it, by some 
 accident, took fire, and continued burning several days. Vast 
 quantities of molten gold and silver were found encrusted on 
 the very pavements of the town, and the worth of millions 
 was collected from the wells and fountains, where it had been 
 hastily concealed. With one hundred and seventy-five mules, 
 richly laden with gold, silver, and jewels, Morgan arrived at 
 Chagres. There he made a division of the spoil ; but his 
 crew, suspecting him of fraud in the partition, mutinied, and 
 he was glad to escape with two or three ships and 400,000 
 pieces-of-eight in specie, with which he arrived in Jamaica. 
 
 21. Morgan now gave up his depredations, retired into 
 private life, purchased a plantation, lived upon and improved 
 it, and so effectually recommended himself to public favour, 
 that he was made a naval commander in the service of his 
 king, obtained the honour of knighthood, became President 
 of the Council of Jamaica, and thrice filled the office of 
 Lieuten ant-Governor. According to some chronicles, the 
 pusillanimity of the British Court, and Morgan's Spanish 
 enemies, however, prevailed so far as to procure a letter from 
 the Secretary of State, ordering him a prisoner to England, 
 where his robust constitution, which the numberless trials to 
 which he had been exposed could not impair, sunk beneath 
 unmerited disgrace. 
 
 22. Others assert that, after remaining three years without 
 a hearing, he was released, and returned to Port Royal, where 
 he lived in comfortable retirement, much beloved, and died on 
 the 26th August 1668, leaving a name which struck terror 
 into Spain, and which records exploits rarely equalled in the 
 annals of British courage. 
 
 23. To return to the history of the island. In 1670 the 
 total white population was 15,198, the militia muster-rolls 
 exhibiting an internal strength of 2,720 men, and the British 
 seamen about the island being 2,500 strong. Fifty-seven 
 sugar works, yielding annually 1,710,000 Ibs. of sugar ; forty- 
 seven cocoa walks, giving 180,000 Ibs. of chocolate nuts : 
 
20 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 and forty-nine indigo works, producing 49,000 Ibs. of dye, 
 attested the prosperity of the island. The indigenous pimento 
 afforded an export annually of 50,000 Ibs. ; 10,000 bushels of 
 salt were produced from three salt-pans ; in six years 60 
 tame cattle had increased to 60,000, and sheep, goats, and 
 tame hogs were innumerable ; cotton, tobacco, armotto, and 
 other articles were being attended to ; and, in the brief space 
 of fourteen years, amidst numberless misfortunes abroad and 
 at home, Jamaica exhibited a wonderful progress in colonial 
 prosperity. 
 
 24. Sir Thomas Lynch, on his arrival as governor in 1671, 
 put an end to the privateering system, and directed the 
 attention of the colonists to the more permanently profitable 
 means of obtaining wealth by agriculture and commerce. 
 The Assembly (consisting of eighteen representatives) was 
 convened, and the revenue fixed as follows : Land at Port 
 Eoyal, one halfpenny per foot ; cleared land and savanna, one 
 penny per acre ; license to sell liquor, 40s. per annum ; 
 brandy and spirits imported, 6d. per gallon ; Portuguese and 
 Spanish wines, 4 per ton ; beer, 30s. per ton, and rum at 
 40s. ditto ; British ships, Is. per ton anchorage ; foreign, 
 double ; the salary of the Governor or Commauder-in-Chief 
 fixed at ,1000 per annum ; .400 to the Lieutenant-Governor ; 
 200 to the Major-General ; 80 to the Chief-Justice ; 20 
 to every Judge, and 10 to his assistant. 
 
 25. According to documents in the State Paper Office, the 
 Assembly in 1671 consisted of eighteen representatives ; 
 and in 1674 Mr. Cranfield, in reply to some queries from His 
 Majesty, stated that the Council of Jamaica consisted of twelve 
 gentlemen. The Assembly of Eepresentatives were elected by 
 the free-holders, two from every parish, except from St. Jago 
 and Port Koyal, which had the privilege of choosing three. 
 
 26. A Chief Court of Judicature sat at St. Jago, sitting 
 every three months, with appeals to the Governor as Chan- 
 cellor ; with six inferior courts in different parts of the island, 
 sitting every month, and holding pleas not exceeding 20, 
 except by Justices, and these of any sum whatever. Quarter 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 21 
 
 Sessions, according to the custom of England, were held in 
 every precinct, and an Admiralty Court was established. 
 The domestic armed force of the island consisted of one 
 regiment of cavalry, 500 strong, and the infantry regiments, 
 containing 5000 men. 
 
 27. The administration of Lord Yaughan, commencing in 
 1677, was termed indulgent, steady, and impartial ; but the 
 conduct of his successor, the Earl of Carlisle, has been censured 
 as weak, petulant, and tyrannical. His efforts to induce the 
 Colonial Assembly to surrender its independence were hap- 
 pily attended with discomfiture. Sir Henry Morgan, the 
 Lieutenant-Governor, in a letter dated 1681, says that the 
 north side of the island had then only been settled five years. 
 The first proof of the impolicy of slave labour was shewn by 
 a serious insurrection of the negroes, which, however, was 
 speedily suppressed. 
 
 28. In 1686 the extensive immigration of Jews gave renewed 
 commercial stimulus to the island ; but the sectarian Popish 
 zeal of the Duke of Albemarle, who, to save him from starving 
 in England, was appointed by James II. Governor of Jamaica, 
 temporarily checked the happiness and prosperity of the 
 islanders. He arrived in 1687, bringing with him Father 
 Churchill, a Eomish priest, and Doctor Hans Sloan e, the 
 great naturalist, as his medical attendant. It was not long 
 before this nobleman and the Assembly were in open anta- 
 gonism. He dissolved the House suddenly because one of the 
 members, in a debate, repeated the old adage, Solus populi 
 suprema lex^ and had the offender taken into custody and fined 
 ,600. Writs were issued for another Assembly. The freedom 
 of election was grossly violated by the Duke, who admitted 
 hosts of servants and discharged seamen to the poll, and 
 imprisoned many legal voters of wealth and consideration. 
 He imposed fines on the latter to a large amount, and 
 threatened to whip two gentlemen for requesting a habeas 
 corpus for their friends. Soon after, the fiight of James II. 
 and the proclamation of "William and Mary were announced. 
 The colonists represented their case, and received redress. 
 
22 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 29. In May 1690 the Earl of Inchiquin arrived as governor, 
 with instructions to ship to England the sufferers from the 
 field of Sedgmoor ; and the whole body of " sold-out rebels " 
 arrived in England on the anniversary of the day on which 
 they had been sent as convicts to Jamaica. War then existed 
 between England and France, and freebooters were making 
 depredations on the seaside plantations of Jamaica. In 
 retaliation, the Earl despatched the Severn and Guernsey 
 men-of-war to attack the French settlements in Hispaniola : 
 and just about the time of his death these vessels returned 
 with valuable prizes to Port Royal, then " the finest town in. 
 the West Indies, and the richest spot in the universe." 
 
 30. On the 7th June 1692, the Great Earthquake occurred, 
 which almost destroyed this opulent city. Whole streets with 
 their inhabitants were swallowed up by the opening of the 
 earth, which, as it closed again, crushed the people to death, 
 and in that manner several were left with their heads above 
 ground. Parts of the land sank under water. The harbour 
 was covered with dead bodies of people of all conditions. 
 Burial places were destroyed, and carcases washed out of the 
 graves. Of 3,000 houses, about 200, with Fort Charles, 
 remained uninjured. The whole island felt the shock. Chains 
 of hills were riven asunder ; new channels formed for rivers ; 
 mountains removed with a mighty crash, burying alive the 
 people of the adjacent valleys ; whole settlements sunk into 
 the bowels of the earth ; plantations were removed en masse, 
 and the sugar works destroyed. At Yallahs a mountain 
 divided. Part of it fell into the vale below, overwhelming 
 several settlements; the other half of the mountain still 
 presents a verdureless face, and is known as Judgment Cliff. 
 The principal plantation at the foot of the mountain, where 
 every soul perished, and its site was unrecognizable, was owned 
 by an atrociously licentious and wicked Dutchman, who even 
 in prosperity was shunned by his neighbours. 
 
 31. The earthquake at Port Royal was followed by a 
 pestilence which slew thousands of the survivors. Many then 
 removed to the lower part of Liguanea, St. Andrews, which was 
 
FROM 1662 TO 1710. 23 
 
 afterwards laid out as a town by Colonel Christian Lilly, of the 
 Royal Engineers. At Green Bay there is still the tomb of 
 Lewis Galdy, " who was swallowed up by the earthquake, and 
 by the providence of God was by another shock thrown into 
 the sea, and miraculously saved by swimming until a boat 
 took him up. He lived many years after in great reputation, 
 beloved by all who knew him, and much lamented at his 
 death." 
 
 32. As terror subsided after the earthquake, new houses 
 were erected, and the place, under the privateering system of 
 the time, began again to flourish ; but in the beginning of the 
 year 1703 a fire broke out at one of the crowded warehouses, 
 where a quantity of gunpowder was lodged, and in a few 
 hours the whole town was in flames. With the exception of 
 the Royal Forts and Magazine, not a building was left. Not- 
 withstanding these occurrences, a number of persons who had 
 left Port Royal returned to it, and began its re-establishment. 
 New houses were built, and trade began to be restored ; but on 
 the 22ud August 1722, a storm passed over the town, which 
 swept the greater portions of the buildings into the sea, and 
 destroyed a number of lives. Of fifty vessels which were 
 in Port Royal harbour on that day, four men-of-war and two 
 merchant ships alone rode out the storm, but with all their 
 masts and booms blown away. 
 
 33. This further calamity was in time forgotten, and Port 
 Royal was again crowded with houses, and enriched by the 
 profitable trade caused by war, in which Great Britain was 
 then engaged ; when, on the 13th July 1815, about midday, a 
 tire broke out, which in a few hours destroyed nearly the 
 whole place, including the Naval Hospital, and left many of 
 the inhabitants utterly destitute. A subscription was set on 
 foot for their relief, which was liberally responded to, 
 Kingston alone subscribing 11,000. Since the occurrence 
 of the fire in 1815, the town has ceased to be a commercial 
 centre, and is now almost exclusively a naval station. The 
 Imperial Government have purchased nearly all the lands, 
 and extended and improved their establishments. 
 
24 HISTORY OP JAMAICA. 
 
 34. In the following year (1693) Sir William Beeston, Knt., 
 formerley Colonel Beeston, arrived as Lieutenant-Governor. 
 In May 1694, intelligence of a projected invasion of the island, 
 in the interests of the fugitive king, was communicated to 
 him ; and on the 17th June a French fleet, commanded by 
 Admiral Du Casse, came in sight. They landed detachments 
 at Cow Bay and Port Morant, and destroyed fifty plantations. 
 By horrid atrocities they secured a large amount of money 
 and other valuables. The squadron took several merchant 
 ships, and carried off 1300 slaves. They then sailed for Car- 
 lisle Bay, but there they were met by the colonial militia, 
 who bravely encountered and eventually defeated them, 
 driving them back to their ships with the loss of 700 men. 
 The sale of the slaves kidnapped realized 65,000 to the 
 captors. 
 
 35. In July 1702 war was again declared by England 
 against France, and Admiral Benbow sailed from Port Royal 
 in search of the French fleet under Du Casse, and on the 19th 
 August fell in with it off Santa Martha. Benbow was de- 
 feated, and taken to Kingston, where he died from the effects 
 of a wound in his leg. 
 
 36. In the following January Colonel Thomas Handesyd 
 (afterwards Major-General) was appointed Governor. There 
 were eight Assemblies and fifteen Sessions within the eight 
 years of his administration. The Governor, in proroguing the 
 last of these Assemblies, declared that their conduct reminded 
 him of "a party of barbarous people who took off the head of 
 Charles I., of ever blessed memory." Among the revenue 
 bills of this period was one levying a poll-tax of ten shillings 
 on every white person above the age of fifteen. 
 
 CHAPTEE III. FEOM 1711 TO 1830. 
 
 1. In July, 1711, Admiral Lord Archibald Hamilton 
 arrived as Governor. He was directed in the royal in- 
 structions not to pass any law for a shorter period than 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 25 
 
 twelve months. This was in consequence of the habit of the 
 Assembly to limit their money bills to three months, " under 
 a jealous apprehension of the Council's interference or the 
 Governor's intemperance." The differences between the Gov- 
 ernor and the Assembly were as fierce during this admin- 
 istration as during that of Colonel Handesyd, and culminated 
 in the Governor's refusing to receive any more messages from 
 the House. Lord Hamilton was recalled, and Mr. Peter 
 Heywood, a planter, succeeded to the government. He was 
 directed not to pass any law that should repeal a law con- 
 firmed by the crown without a suspension clause, or first 
 transmitting the draft of the bill to the Secretary of State. 
 
 2. In April 1718, Sir Nicholas Lawes, another planter, 
 became Governor. He endeavoured to conciliate all parties, 
 but the publication of a libel by Mr. James Wood, the clerk 
 of the Council, on the Assembly, led to the renewal of the 
 political conflicts. The libel was in defence of Lord Hamilton. 
 An interchange of intemperate messages between the Council 
 and the Assembly ended in the determination of each party 
 to have no further communication with the other, the last 
 message from the Assembly being thrown off the council 
 table by one of the members of the board, and trampled 
 beneath his feet. This led to a dissolution of the Assembly. 
 In the following year the legislative brawls were continued, 
 and five members were expelled by the Assembly " for having 
 urged that the House had fallen by the Speaker remaining 
 in the chair without a quorum." The House was again 
 dissolved. 
 
 3. The interruption to the progress of public business 
 involved the government so much in debt, that its bills were 
 at a discount of 50 per cent. ; and even the expenses incident 
 on the trial of some pirates could not be defrayed. The 
 rebellious negroes also harassed the country, and appeared in 
 such force that it became necessary to summon the aid of the 
 Mosquitto Indians. A party of them arrived under the 
 conduct of their king, but the want of money obstructed 
 even that important service. The "Picaroons" from Cuba 
 
26 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 also made frequent invasions on the unprotected coasts. The 
 house of the proprietor of a considerable settlement on the 
 beach of St. Ann was one night surrounded, and set on fire in all 
 directions, and in the morning nothing was seen but the smoking 
 ruins of the building, in which sixteen human beings had been 
 burnt to ashes. Under the above-mentioned circumstances a 
 new Assembly Was called ; but on their meeting, instead of 
 proceeding with the revenue bills, they resumed a former con- 
 test with the Attorney-General, who had been expelled from 
 the House for being a " Papist." Another dissolution ensued. 
 
 4. While the colony was suffering from these political 
 dissensions, a dreadful hurricane occurred, which ruined so 
 many properties, destroyed so many lives, and reduced the 
 survivors to such disasters, that Sir Nicholas Lawes had to 
 convene a new Assembly, that some relief might be administered 
 to the unfortunate sufferers. "Yet so inadequate was the 
 revenue to meet even the ordinary exigencies of the govern- 
 ment, that the patriotic Governor literally sold his house and 
 lands to discharge the debts contracted by his official establish- 
 ment." 
 
 5. The Duke of Portland arrived as Governor in December 
 1722, and endeavoured, without success, to secure a permanent 
 revenue bill. Pending the settlement of this question, for 
 four years the revenue of the island was granted under pro- 
 visional enactments. During the controversies that distracted 
 the community, the Assembly expelled another Attorney- 
 General, Mr. Monk, for " an infringement of the liberties of 
 the people." The Duke of Portland died in July 1726, and 
 was succeeded by Major-General Eobert Hunter as Governor. 
 Before his arrival he had made himself acquainted with the 
 state of the colony, and urged its distress on the attention of 
 His Majesty's ministers. In recompense for these early ser- 
 vices, the Assembly increased his salary from the ,5,000 paid 
 the Duke of Portland to 6,000 per annum. The long 
 agitated revenue bill was passed, under which a permanent 
 revenue of 8000 per annum was granted to the crown. In 
 return the King confirmed all the laws which up to that time 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 27 
 
 remained unassented to, and decreed that " all such laws and 
 statutes of England as have been at any time esteemed, 
 introduced, used, accepted, or* received as laws in this island, 
 shall, and are hereby declared to be and continue laws of this 
 His Majesty's Island of Jamaica for ever." 
 
 6. During the legislative dissensions above referred to, the 
 Maroons had grown so formidable, under a very able leader 
 named "Cud joe," that it became necessary to increase the 
 military strength of the colony, and to erect extra barracks. 
 Every barrack was provided with a pack of dogs by the 
 churchwardens of the parish, to guard against surprises at 
 night, and for tracking the enemy in the mountain fastnesses. 
 In 1734 Captain Stoddart attacked the Maroons at their 
 windward town called " Nanny," situated on one of the 
 highest points of the Blue Mountains, and completely de- 
 stroyed or routed the whole body. Many were killed in their 
 habitations, and several threw themselves headlong down the 
 precipice. But the Maroons rallied, and were soon again 
 prepared for battle. Two hundred seamen and three or four 
 hundred of the militia reinforced the military, and penetrated 
 almost to the new Maroon settlement. The insurgents 
 attacked the troops on all sides, and for a time it seemed 
 equally impossible for the latter to advance or retreat. At 
 length they effected their escape, leaving behind a number 
 of killed and wounded. This greatly increased the alarm and 
 insecurity that everywhere prevailed. 
 
 7. Governor Trelawney arrived on the 30th April 1738, and 
 his first act was to conciliate the mountaineers. He com- 
 missioned Colonel John Guthrie (late of the Darien Expedition) 
 to meet the chiefs of Maroons, and negotiate with them a 
 treaty of peace. Two thousand five hundred acres of land 
 were assigned them in different parts of the island, and per- 
 fect freedom was granted them and their successors. They 
 were required to aid the government in repelling invasions, 
 and in suppressing internal rebellion. Two European super- 
 intendents were appointed to reside amongst them, and 
 "Captain Cudjoe" was confirmed as chief commander. 
 
 c 
 
28 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 8. War was declared by England against Spain in October 
 1739, in consequence of the "unjust seizures and depredations 
 that had been carried on in the West Indies by the Spanish 
 guardacostas," and Jamaica furnished contingents of volun- 
 teers to assist in the operations against the Spanish- American 
 possessions. Porto Bello and Chagres were successively 
 attacked and surrendered, but every other attempt at subjuga- 
 tion resulted in utter failure. The British commanders 
 returned to England, and the expedition was abandoned. 
 In the October following a dreadful storm and earthquake 
 occurred. Port Royal again suffered. All the fortifications 
 were injured, and that at Mosquito Point was destroyed. 
 The streets were deluged with water, and the inhabitants, all 
 through the dreary night, were looking for instant death. 
 But the greatest injuries occurred at Savanna-la- Mar. "The 
 sea, bursting its ancient limits, overwhelmed that unhappy 
 town, and swept it to instant destruction, leaving not a vestige 
 of man, beast, or habitation behind." 
 
 9. Governor Trelawney retired from the government in 
 November 1751, and Vice- Admiral Knowles (afterwards 
 Baronet) was sworn into office as Governor. During the 
 early part of his administration the Assembly claimed the 
 right of appointing their own officers to administer the duties 
 of the Public Treasury, and of the passing of all laws without 
 suspension clauses, whether they affected the prerogative of the 
 Crown or not. These demands led to a protracted and bitter 
 disagreement between the Executive and the Assembly, and 
 to the ultimate decision of the House of Commons " that the 
 resolution of the Assembly was illegal, repugnant to the 
 terms of the King's commission to his Governor, and deroga- 
 tory of the rights of the Crown and people of Great Britain." 
 The Assembly was dissolved, and the new House was directed 
 by the Governor to meet him in Kingston. The summons 
 was complied with, but the Assembly refused to pass a bill 
 for transferring the seat of government to Kingston, and was 
 again dissolved. Other dissolutions ensued, but the required 
 measure was at length passed and assented to by the Governor. 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 29 
 
 It was subsequently disallowed by the king, and Governor 
 Knowles was burnt in effigy. 
 
 10. Just before the Easter of 1760 a formidable rebellion 
 broke out amongst the slaves in the parish of St. Mary. They 
 seized the fort at Port Maria, and possessed themselves of the 
 arms, ammunition, and other stores. The white inhabitants 
 of the neighbouring properties were all butchered, and the 
 insurgents retired to Ballard's Valley, where, however, they 
 were met by a body of volunteers and driven into the woods. 
 Martial law was proclaimed, and two regiments of regulars 
 and a large body of militia were ordered to the scene of action. 
 The insurgents fought with desperate fury, and were at first 
 successful; but they were ultimately surrounded and over- 
 powered. More than 400 were killed in the field ; one of the 
 ringleaders was burnt, and two were hung in chains. About 
 600 were transported to the Bay of Honduras. 
 
 11. Two years after (1762) Governor William Henry 
 Lyttleton arrived from South Carolina, and assumed the 
 government, in succession to Lieutenant-Governor Moor. 
 Governor Lyttleton brought with him intelligence of the 
 declaration of war between England and Spain, and shortly 
 after an expedition sailed from Port Eoyal against Havannah, 
 which was besieged and captured. Jamaica contributed a 
 subsidiary force. Booty to the value of two millions sterling, 
 exclusive of an immense artillery, with twelve sail-of-the line 
 and a fleet of merchantmen, rewarded the gallant exploit. 
 The wealth of the colony was hourly increased by the rich 
 prizes which again poured their glittering treasures on its 
 shores. 
 
 12. In October peace was proclaimed, and the Assembly 
 resumed their political discords. The Governor, as chancellor, 
 granted a writ of habeas corpus and released from prison one 
 Wilson, a marshal's deputy, who had been committed to gaol 
 by the Assembly for a breach of privilege in levying on the 
 carriage horses of Mr. Oliphant, a member, for debt. The 
 House refused to grant the supplies until reparation was 
 made. Three dissolutions ensued, but the House adhered to 
 
30 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 their determination. Eventually Governor Lyttleton applied 
 to the Imperial Government for power to draw upon the 
 British Treasury for the subsistence of the troops, so as to be 
 relieved of the necessity for supplies from the Assembly. The 
 application was granted, but the Governor was recalled, and 
 .Rodger Hope Elleston appointed Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 13. By command of the King in council, and in presence 
 of the Council and Assembly, he caused a vacatur to be 
 entered on the margin of the proceedings in the case of 
 Wilson. Four years after an application was made by the 
 Imperial Government for the refunding of the thirty thou- 
 sand pounds which Governor Lyttleton had drawn from the 
 British Treasury to pay the troops. The Assembly refused 
 payment, and, in an address to the throne, urged that com- 
 pliance on their part " would enable the Governor of Jamaica, 
 in concert with any future wicked or despotic administration 
 in Great Britain, to intermit Assemblies at pleasure ; to 
 suspend their legislative rights, and to burden the people of 
 the island to their latest posterity in the most grievous, 
 arbitrary and oppressive manner, without bounds and without 
 remedy." The objections of the Assembly prevailed, and the 
 claim was abandoned by the Imperial Government. 
 
 14. In 1777 another outbreak among the slaves disturbed 
 the tranquillity of the island. A conspiracy to murder all the 
 white colonists was discovered in the parishes of Hanover 
 and Westmoreland, just as it was about to be put into exe- 
 cution. So great was the consternation that a homeward 
 bound fleet of more than one hundred ships was detained for 
 some days. The ready assistance offered by the Navy, with 
 the active support of th$ militia, restored peace ; and the 
 ringleaders of the conspiracy, thirty in number, were executed. 
 
 15. In March of the following year the French recognised 
 the independence of the "United States," and war was 
 declared by England. D'Estaing, with a fleet of thirty-six 
 ships of the line, sailed for the West Indies. Martial law 
 was proclaimed in Jamaica, and additional fortifications were 
 thrown up on all sides. A militia trained and armed started 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 31 
 
 into existence, which the ordinary laws had never been able 
 to collect. The capital was guarded by the St. Catherine's 
 Regiment, while the regular troops were reserved for more 
 important duties, and everywhere the colonial corps displayed 
 great enthusiasm. Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. 
 Vincent, fell into the hands of the French ; but no attack was 
 made on Jamaica, and the hostile fleet was ultimately with- 
 drawn. But Spain having in the meantime joined France in 
 her conflict with England, Governor Dalling despatched an 
 expedition against San Juan de Nicaragua, to which Jamaica 
 supplied a contingent of 1,379 men. Nelson (afterwards the 
 renowned hero of Trafalgar), who was then governor of Fort 
 Charles, left his post and accepted a subordinate command. 
 The castle was captured, but disease made sad havoc among 
 the besiegers. More than two-thirds perished in the swamps, 
 and the remnant returned to Port Royal broken in spirits 
 and in health. Nelson was carried ashore prostrated by 
 malarial fever, and narrowly escaped death. 
 
 16. In April, 1782, occurred the great victory of Rodney 
 over the French fleet under Count de Grasse, while on its 
 way to effect a junction with the Spanish fleet, preparatory 
 to the invasion of Jamaica. " From all quarters the people 
 assembled for the defence of their capital ; the largest trees 
 of the forest were thrown across the roads, and the soldiers 
 were relieved by the diligence of the people, who watched 
 while they slept, and laboured while they reposed." When, 
 therefore, news of the victory of Rodney was received, the 
 entire population joined in the most extravagant manifesta- 
 tions of joy, and throughout the island the people once more 
 breathed freely. The militia were relieved from active 
 service, and the King thanked them for their spirited exer- 
 tions in the defence of "his valued and important colony." 
 Rodney was raised to the peerage, and a marble statue by 
 Bacon was erected in the square of Spanish Town to per- 
 petuate his name. Peace between Great Britain, France, 
 Spain, and the thirteen United States of North America, was 
 proclaimed in the following year. 
 
32 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 17. Three years later the last of five destructive hurricanes 
 occurred. The number of negroes who perished by famine, 
 in consequence of this succession of hurricanes and the re- 
 striction of trade with the United States, was estimated at 
 15,000. In November, 1789, the Council and Assembly met 
 in conference for the purpose of protesting against Mr. Wil- 
 berforce's scheme for the suppression of the slave trade. 
 Their joint claim for compensation was embodied in a 
 memorial which was presented to the British Parliament. 
 The value of the island, considered as British property, was 
 then estimated at thirty-nine millions sterling, of which 
 twelve millions and a half was the value of the 250,000 slaves 
 then working as agricultural labourers and otherwise. 
 
 18. The democratic doctrines which had for some time been 
 manifesting themselves in France eventually extended to 
 St. Domingo, and a sanguinary revolution broke out there in 
 the fall of 1789. Jamaica, from its proximity to that island, 
 became the resort of many of the proprietors, who had to flee 
 with their devoted slaves from the barbarity of the revolu- 
 tionists, and the treachery of the French commissioners. 
 This emigration was perilous to the contentment and good 
 order of the Jamaica slaves. In December, 1799, a conspiracy 
 among the negroes who came from St. Domingo with their 
 masters was discovered. A spy named Joseph San Portas 
 was hanged, and upwards of 1,000 o the negroes were 
 transported ; besides which there were strong reasons for 
 believing that revolutionary action was meditated by the 
 republicans on this island. In this state of alarm protective 
 measures were demanded by the colonists, and adopted by 
 the local government. Admiral Affleck stationed ships of 
 war along the coast nearest the expected scene of action ; a 
 military force was quartered upon each vessel, and the island 
 was guarded by its inilitia to the water's edge. 
 
 19. While these precautions against rebellion and invasion 
 were being maintained, Lieutenant-Govern or Williamson 
 received orders from the King's ministers to send a military 
 force to St. Domingo, to " accept terms of capitulation from 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 33 
 
 the inhabitants of such parts of the island as solicited the 
 protection of the British Government." The command was 
 quickly acted upon, but the British, instead of being received 
 with acclamation, as they anticipated, met with opposition 
 and hostility in every quarter. They captured Jeremie, Mole 
 St. Nicholas, Tiburon, St. Marc, and Port-au-Prince ; but 
 their victory was death to the victors. Yellow fever in its 
 most malignant form appeared in the ranks of the invading 
 army, and more than decimated it. In this state of things 
 Lieutenant-Governor Williamson organised in Jamaica large 
 bodies of negro troops, who, it was supposed, would successfully 
 withstand the unhealthy climate of Port-au-Prince and the 
 other conquered towns. With these new levies he himself 
 proceeded to St. Domingo, with the title of "Governor- 
 General," but all was in vain. Treachery, disappointment, 
 disease, and death had done their baneful work, and at the 
 close of 1798, General Maitland, who had succeeded to the 
 command, entered into a treaty with Toussaint 1'Ouverture, 
 and left the island with the perishing remnant of the British 
 army. Williamson's negro regiments were disbanded in 
 St. Domingo, and numbers of them joined the revolutionists. 
 20. While these operations were proceeding in the neigh- 
 bouring island, a second Maroon war was exciting the fears 
 of the colonists of Jamaica. The Trelawny Town Maroons 
 had expelled an obnoxious superintendent from their settle- 
 ment, and the Earl of Balcarres had marched fifteen hundred 
 chosen European soldiers and three thousand of the colonial 
 militia to subdue them. On the 12th of August 1795, a 
 detachment of 400 men, under the command of Colonel 
 Sandford, was despatched to destroy some of their provision 
 grounds, but they found everything already uprooted. The 
 detachment thereupon attempted to rejoin the main body 
 by traversing a defile, but they were met by volley after 
 volley from unseen hands. Colonel Sandford, Quarter-master 
 McBride, and a number of non-commissioned officers and 
 privates of the 18th Dragoons and the 20th Regiment of Foot, 
 and Colonel Gallimore and " a number of respectable gentle- 
 
34 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 men of the militia," were killed, while scores of others were 
 wounded. The forests which skirted Trelawny Town were 
 then cleared by a thousand slaves, and the artillery shelled 
 the interior. 
 
 21. The Maroons withdrew to their subterranean retreats, 
 and reappeared higher up the hills. Colonel Fitch, with a 
 party of the 83rd Eegimeot, attempted to penetrate the forests 
 for the purpose of extending their posts, aud were accom- 
 panied by a body of Accompoiig Maroons, who remained 
 faithful to the Government. The troops again fell into 
 ambuscade, and Colonel Fitch, and Captain Brissett of Fort 
 Charlotte, and a number of the rank and file of the 83rd 
 Regiment, were killed. Captains Leigh and Burnt of the same 
 Regiment, the superintendent of the Accompong Maroons, 
 and several others, were wounded. In the third important 
 encounter of the Government troops with the mountaineers, 
 the militia took the leading part, and Captain Dunbar and 
 several of the colonial corps were killed. In the dark re- 
 cesses of the woods the Maroons kept up their fire, and as 
 night was coming on the militia had to retire. 
 
 22. These successes of the Maroons created anxieties and 
 perplexities on the part of the colonists, during which it was 
 suggested to resort to the use of bloodhounds to hunt down 
 the fugitives. Colonel Quarrel of the militia was commis- 
 sioned to obtain a supply from Cuba, and on the 14th December 
 he landed at Montego Bay, with 40 chasseurs and 100 dogs. 
 These strange auxiliaries were at once marched to the scene 
 of rebellion, where an accident demonstrated the ferocity of 
 their nature. "One of the hounds was unmuzzled by his 
 chasseur-master to allow him to drink. A woman, a suttler 
 of the camp, who was then preparing a mess for the escort, 
 menaced the dog off with a stick as he passed near by. 
 Instantly the dog seized her by the throat, and so tore her 
 that she died, the dog being disengaged from his hold only 
 by cutting off his head." The story of this incident soon found 
 its way into the mountain fastnesses, and inspired the warriors 
 with more alarm than did the cannon and muskets of the 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 35 
 
 soldiery. The Maroons hastened to capitulate, and in June 
 1796 upwards of five hundred men, women, and children were 
 transported to Nova Scotia. From thence they were sent to 
 Sierra Leone, where they formed the nucleus of that thriving 
 colony. Two years later another disturbance broke out in 
 the vicinity of the last rebellion the insurgents being the run- 
 away slaves who infested the lower regions of the Trelawny 
 Mountains. They rushed upon the neighbouring settlements, 
 burnt down houses, murdered the inhabitants, and committed 
 other excesses. Two thousand soldiers and six thousand 
 militia, besides a party of Accompong Maroons, marched 
 against the rebels, and they were soon hunted down and 
 defeated. 
 
 23. Notwithstanding these occurrences, the colonists raised, 
 by voluntary subscription amongst themselves, the sum of one 
 million pounds sterling, to aid the mother country in its war 
 against revolutionary France. Yet, three years after (1801), 
 the Imperial Government demanded of the Assembly the 
 maintenance of a military force of 5,000 men (afterwards 
 reduced to 3,000), on the ground that the colony " had not yet 
 contributed its full proportion to the general expenses of the 
 empire." The Assembly refused, "on the constitutional 
 principle that the right of the colony to protection was at 
 least as great as that of any other portion of the British 
 empire." It was not long, however, before the colony had 
 again to make extensive provision for its protection against 
 invasion. In 1804 war was proclaimed against France and 
 Spain, and the bravest admirals of Europe displayed their 
 flags amidst the islands of the Caribbean Sea. On the 1st 
 April, 1805, intelligence was received that a French squadron 
 was on its way to Jamaica, and martial law was at once 
 proclaimed. All the public records were removed to the 
 church in St. Thomas-in-the- Vale, and deposited there under 
 a militia guard. 
 
 24. The French fleet having been closely pursued by the 
 British squadron, withdrew after an attack on Dominica ; but 
 on the 25th May the combined fleet of France and Spain 
 
36 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 arrived at Martinique. They were closely pursued by Lord 
 Nelson, with ten sail-of-the-line and three frigates, and chased 
 out of these waters. Early in the following year (1806) the 
 British had a brilliant victory over the French, off St. Domingo, 
 and the captured prizes were brought into Port Eoyal. The 
 Assembly voted ,3,000 to Sir J. T. Duckworth, the successful 
 admiral, for the purchase of a service of plate, in addition to 
 a thousand pounds which had already been granted to him for 
 the purchase of a sword. The citizens of Kingston, in public 
 meeting, protested against this wanton and improvident 
 expenditure of the public money, and the editors of the 
 newspapers in which the resolution was published were taken 
 into custody for a breach of the privileges of the House. 
 They were subsequently discharged on giving excuses, which 
 were accepted as satisfactory. 
 
 25. In the following year, Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote 
 became Lieutenant-Governor. He brought with him the 
 announcement that the Imperial Parliament had passed a 
 law withdrawing the restriction of trade between Jamaica and 
 the other British West India islands and the United States 
 of America, and had abolished the African slave trade without 
 compensation to the planters. There were then in Jamaica 
 319,351 slaves. On the 26th March, 1808, the Duke of 
 Manchester arrived as Governor. His administration con- 
 tinued for 19 years, and was distinguished by the novelty of 
 an Assembly having existed for the full term of seven years. 
 " This was the first time that any governor had beheld the 
 natural death of his own House." Nevertheless many questions 
 of privilege engaged the attention of the Assembly. General 
 Carmichael, the commander of the forces, was brought to the 
 bar for a contempt of the privileges of the House, in having 
 prohibited his officers answering questions before a committee 
 relative to a mutiny among the soldiers of the 2nd West 
 India Regiment, stationed at Fort Augusta. The General 
 having been subsequently ordered by the King to withdraw 
 the prohibition, he submitted himself to the House, and was 
 excused. Chief-Justice Jackson was summoned to the bar 
 
FROM 1711 TO 1830. 37 
 
 for refusing to give evidence before a committee appointed to 
 inquire into an appeal made to the House by one of its 
 members against a decision of the judge, in a case in which 
 the member was a party. The Chief-Justice declared that 
 he could not take the oath as a witness, " without compromising 
 his conscience as a man, and making a deliberate surrender of 
 his independence as a judge." The House, on reconsideration, 
 discharged the Chief-Justice from custody. 
 
 26. In the mutiny above referred to, the adjutant and major 
 of the regiment were killed on parade ; and in retaliation nine 
 of the mutineers were instantly shot by the grenadier 
 company, which remained loyal. Six others were subse- 
 quently shot by sentences of courts-martial. An inquiry by 
 a committee of the Assembly into the circumstances of this 
 disaffection terminated without any important result. There 
 were also during the Duke's administration some conspiracies 
 afc rebellion, and some 'actual outbreaks of a minor character, 
 which were all discovered and suppressed without any serious 
 occurrences. One case had an enduring importance. Messrs. 
 Lescene and Escoffery, two coloured gentlemen, were trans- 
 ported for an alleged "attempt to revolutionize the island ;" 
 they had previously been discharged from gaol under habeas 
 corpus by Chief -Justice Scarlett. They proceeded to England, 
 had their complaint brought before Parliament, and were 
 compensated by a gratuity from the Imperial exchequer. 
 
 27. The wars which proceeded during a great part of the 
 Duke of Manchester's administration between England and 
 France, and England and the United States of America, 
 closed the European markets against the produce of the 
 planters, and led to great distress. The depreciation of British 
 bills of exchange also created the want of a sufficient circulat- 
 ing medium. The Assembly was in consequence compelled to 
 authorise the cutting from the centre of the current coin a 
 piece equal to 12 J per cent., which was put into circulation 
 under the denomination of a " bit." Nature, also, contributed 
 to the misfortunes of the colonists. In October 1812 a severe 
 storm occurred, which destroyed the growing food of the 
 
38 HISTORY OF JAMAICA 
 
 people, and threatened a famine ; and in the following Novem- 
 ber four severe shocks of earthquake considerably damaged a 
 number of buildings throughout the island. In August 1813 
 another severe storm swept over the island, and in October 
 1815 the county of Surrey was materially injured by a similar 
 catastrophe. Many of the works of the sugar and coffee 
 plantations in St. George, St. David, and the upper part of 
 Port Royal, were destroyed, and great portions of the soil 
 were carried away by the overwhelming rapidity of the rivers. 
 A number of lives were lost by these calamities, and by vessels 
 being wrecked on the coasts and in the harbours. In November 
 1818 portions of the county of Cornwall also sustained great 
 injury by a storm, which lasted, with intermissions, during 
 three days. 
 
 28. But the most prominent occurrence during the Duke of 
 Manchester's administration was the beginning of the con- 
 troversy between the Imperial Government and the Assembly 
 on the subject of the Slave Code. In the session of 1823 the 
 Assembly was called upon to give effect to Mr. Canning's 
 resolutions for " the adoption of effectual and decisive measures 
 for ameliorating the condition of the slave population of His 
 Majesty's colonies, and preparing them for a participation in 
 those civil rights and privileges which were enjoyed by other 
 classes of His Majesty's subjects." Among the measures 
 indicated were the abolition of Sunday markets, the cessation 
 of the practice of carrying a whip in the field, and the exemp- 
 tion of women from corporal punishment under any circum- 
 stances whatever. The Assembly refused to entertain these 
 recommendations, on the ground that the Slave Code " was as 
 complete in all its enactments as the nature of circumstances 
 would admit." They also repudiated the right of the Imperial 
 Parliament to interfere in the internal affairs of the island. 
 
 29. The agitation arising out of these contentions was 
 at its height when the Duke of Manchester relinquished 
 the government, and Sir John Keane became lieutenant- 
 governor. One of his first acts was to announce to the 
 Assembly the disallowance of the law passed in December 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 39 
 
 1826, prohibiting Dissenting ministers and others from 
 ^ demanding or receiving any moneys or other chattel what- 
 ever for affording instruction to slaves." The disallowance 
 was accompanied by an order from the Imperial Government 
 prohibiting the Governor's assenting to any measure curtailing 
 the religious liberty of any class of his Majesty's subjects, 
 unless it contained a suspension clause. 
 
 30. The Earl of Belmore succeeded to the government in 
 June 1829, and repeated the demand of the Imperial Gov- 
 ernment for the amendment of the Slave Code. After some 
 acts in this direction which had been passed by the Assembly 
 had been rejected by the King, in consequence of the inclusion 
 of clauses affecting the Dissenting ministers, an act was 
 eventually passed, from which the obnoxious clauses were 
 excluded, and which enabled slaves to give evidence in Courts 
 of Justice ; and this Act was left to its operation. 
 
 31. Proposals were, however, subsequently made by the 
 British Government for the further amelioration of the con-- 
 dition of the slaves ; and Mr. Curtis Phillip Berry (a member 
 of the Assembly) moved that the despatch containing these 
 proposals be carried into the public square in front of the 
 House, and burned by the common hangman ; while Mr. 
 Stamp (another member) suggested the utter disregard of the 
 recommendations, basing his suggestion on the ability of the 
 colonial militia to resist the forces of England. The House 
 declined to consider any measures not emanating from them- 
 selves, and rejected the recommendations. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. FKOM 1831 TO 1865. 
 
 1. The hostility of a majority of the Assembly and of the 
 slaveowners to the Imperial Government was so intense, as to 
 cause them "to threaten the transfer of their allegiance to the 
 United States, or even to assert their independence, after the 
 manner of their continental neighbours." x The excitement 
 
 1 Mr. Edward Jordan (afterwards President of the Privy Council and 
 Companion of the Bath), was tried in 1837 on a charge of constructive 
 treason in publishing an article in the " Watchman" newspaper. 
 
40 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 extended itself to the slave population, and resulted in an 
 outbreak on the 28th December 1831. The mansions and 
 sugar- works of Kensington estate, in the parish of St. James, 
 were first set on fire by the slaves, and by midnight sixteen 
 incendiary fires were destroying the properties in the neigh- 
 bourhood. The militia regiments of the various parishes 
 were, for the most part, already on duty, keeping guard, as 
 was customary, during the Christmas holidays ; but now all 
 persons capable of bearing arms were required to render 
 assistance. 
 
 2. The Western Interior Regiment, under the command of 
 Colonel Grignon, was reinforced by the 7th company of the 
 St. James's Eegiment, and marched to Old Montpelier estate, 
 where they were met by two parties of the rebels, under the 
 command of self-constituted "colonels" and " captains." 
 The volleys of the militia soon put the insurgents to flight 
 their principal leaders and many others were killed. The 
 casualties on the part of the colonial corps were one man 
 killed and four wounded. By that time the slaves in all the 
 parishes of the county of Cornwall were in rebellion. Those 
 on " Y. S." estate, in St. Elizabeth, made a stand against the 
 militia, but the latter were victorious, and many of the 
 insurgents were killed, and a great many taken prisoners. 
 
 3. In Manchester there was also a fight between some of the 
 slaves and the militia, in which the insurgents lost six of their 
 number. In the meantime, martial law was proclaimed 
 throughout the island, and General Sir Willoughby Cotton, 
 with detachments of the 77th and the 84tji Regiments, pro- 
 ceeded to the disaffected districts. The General made a 
 disposition of his forces (including the militia), and himself 
 took the field. Several skirmishes occurred between the 
 insurgents and the troops, in which many of the former were 
 killed and wounded, and a few of the latter were injured. 
 Under the judicious and skilful arrangements of the General 
 the insurgents were separated ; some quickly betaking them- 
 selves to the woods and mountain fastnesses, but most of them 
 returning to the estate, and giving themselves up to the 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 41 
 
 authorities and to their masters. A great number expiated 
 their offences by death, and others were flogged. Property to 
 the value of 666,977 sterling was destroyed by the insurgents ; 
 and the British Government, in commiseration of the de- 
 plorable state to which the proprietors were reduced, extended 
 to them a loan of 200,000 to replenish their plantations. 
 
 4. The Eeverend William Knibb, and the other Dissenting 
 ministers who were arrested during martial law for inciting 
 the slaves to rebellion, were tried and acquitted ; but a number 
 of the leading slaveholders and their sympathisers formed 
 themselves into an association, designated the Colonial Church 
 Union, for the avowed purpose of exterminating the sectarians. 
 The Wesleyan and Baptist chapels in St. Ann, Trelawny, 
 St. James, and other parishes, were destroyed, and personal 
 indignities were shown to many of the pastors. At length 
 a royal proclamation was issued declaring the Colonial 
 Church Union an illegal association ; and a circular was issued 
 by the Governor (the Earl of Mulgrave) to the Custodes, 
 informing them of his determination to deprive all who 
 continued to adhere to the Union of all appointments held 
 by them under the crown. Accordingly, Colonel Hamilton 
 Brown, of the St. Ann Interior Eegiment of militia, was 
 cashiered on parade at Huntly Pasture by the Governor in 
 person, and a number of other gentlemen were deprived of 
 their commissions as magistrates and officers of militia for 
 their connection with the Union. This action on the part of 
 the Governor was the deathblow of the illegal organisation. 
 
 5. While these measures were being adopted against the 
 colonial unionists, the Assembly were again repudiating the 
 right of the Imperial Parliament to legislate for Jamaica. 
 This was in consequence of the Earl of Mulgrave insisting 
 on the immediate passing of the laws indicated in Mr. 
 Canning's resolutions of 1823. In reply, the Governor 
 informed them that he could not listen to their denial of the 
 right of the Imperial Parliament to legislate on the internal 
 affairs of the colony, " without asserting, in the most un- 
 equivocal terms, the transcendent powers of the Imperial 
 
42 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Parliament, regulated only by its own discretion, and limited 
 only by such restrictions as itself may have imposed." The 
 Assembly thereupon passed a resolution in which the an- 
 nouncement of the Governor was declared to be " subversive 
 of the common rights, and dangerous to the lives and liberties 
 of the colonists." They acknowledged the supremacy of the 
 sovereign, but " could not admit the supremacy of a portion 
 of His Majesty's subjects in the parent state over another 
 portion of these subjects in Jamaica." This action on the 
 part of the Assembly led up to the passing of the Imperial 
 Act, which declared that, from and after the 1st August 1834, 
 all the slaves in the colonial possessions of Great Britain 
 should be for ever free, but subject to an intermediate state 
 of six years' apprenticeship for praedials, and four years for 
 domestics. Twenty millions of pounds sterling were awarded 
 as compensation to the slave-owners. There were then up- 
 wards of 300,000 slaves in Jamaica. 
 
 6. On the 8th October 1833 a new Assembly met, and the 
 Emancipation Law of the Imperial Parliament was laid before 
 them. The Assembly had now no alternative but to accept 
 the imperial decree ; but, before they separated, they placed 
 a strong protest against the Act on their journals. They 
 declared the action of the Imperial Parliament unconstitu- 
 tional, and designated it as one of spoliation, which could 
 produce nothing but clamour, discontent, and rebellion. The 
 Earl of Mulgrave having achieved the object of his mission, 
 retired ; and was succeeded by Lord Sligo, who was appointed 
 with the especial view of carrying out the scheme of eman- 
 cipation. He brought with him a number of stipendiary 
 magistrates to administer the Act. On the 1st August J 834, 
 slavery was abolished, and the apprenticeship system estab- 
 lished. The number of apprentices in Jamaica for whom 
 pecuniary compensation was paid by the British government 
 was 255,290 ; and the number of aged persons, children and 
 "runaways," who were excluded from the valuation, was 
 55,780 ; making a total of 311,070 emancipated bondsmen. 
 The amount of compensation awarded was 5,853,975 sterling. 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 43 
 
 7. Lord Sligo convened the legislature in August 1835, for 
 the purpose of enabling them to pass a police law, and other 
 measures that had become necessary by the altered state of 
 things in the colony ; but the bills were so modified and 
 amended in their progress through the House, as not to contain 
 any of the essential recommendations of the Secretary of State, 
 This was pointed out in a message from the Governor, which 
 was voted a breach of privilege, and led to two prorogations. 
 On the re-assembling of the House in May 1836, the Governor 
 stated that "he had been informed by an authority of more 
 experience than his own, and to which it was his duty to 
 submit, that the delivery of the message relative to the bill 
 in aid of the Abolition Act, involved a breach of their privi- 
 leges (although not intended), and he had to express his regret 
 at the occurrence." The House thereupon proceeded to busi- 
 ness, and soon after the close of the session the Marquis of 
 Sligo retired from the government. As the Assembly would 
 not pass the required law in aid of the Abolition Act, the 
 Imperial Parliament legislated on the subject, and the Act in 
 aid was proclaimed in the colony. 
 
 8. On the 22nd May 1838, the House of Commons, acting 
 on a demand from the British people, passed a resolution 
 declaring "that negro apprenticeship in the British colonies 
 should at once cease and determine." The local legislature 
 met on the 5th June, and Sir Lionel Smith, then Governor, 
 called their attention to the uncontrollable agitation existing 
 in the mother country, and the excitement in the colony on 
 the apprenticeship question. "Thus pressed, the House, on 
 the third day of their sitting, read for the first time a bill to 
 terminate the apprenticeship on the 1st of August. After a 
 brief adjournment it was read a second time, and on the next 
 day, a few amendments being made in committee, a third 
 time, and was passed. It quietly ran its course through the 
 Council, and on the 16th June it received the Governor's 
 assent." But the Assembly protested "before God and man" 
 against the interference of the British Parliament with the 
 internal affairs of Jamaica, and especially against the Imperial 
 
 D 
 
44 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Act to amend the Abolition Law, and its proclamation in the 
 colony. On the 1st August 1838, the apprenticeship system 
 was abolished, and absolute freedom conferred upon the whole 
 negro population. The emancipated people and their friends 
 devoted three entire days to rejoicings; but all the festivities 
 terminated peaceably. 
 
 9. Concurrently with the passing of the Total Emancipation 
 Act by the Imperial Parliament, they passed a law for the 
 better government of prisons in the West Indies. The 
 Assembly protested against this "infringement on the in- 
 herent rights of the legislature of the colony," and resolved 
 on abstaining from the *' exercise of any legislative functions 
 except such as might be necessary to preserve inviolate the 
 faith of the island with the public creditor, until they shall be 
 left to the free exercise of their inherent rights as British 
 subjects." The House was prorogued, and subsequently dis- 
 solved. On the assembling of the new House, it adhered to 
 the previous resolution, and was prorogued. Seventeen annual 
 laws were left to expire at the end of the year, among which 
 were acts providing for a police, and to a great extent for the 
 public revenue. 
 
 10. This dead-lock in legislation having been reported to 
 the Home authorities, a law was passed by the Imperial 
 Parliament, in which it was provided that in case of the 
 refusal of the Assembly to resume the work of legislation 
 within a given time, the Governor and Council should have 
 power to pass revenue laws, and to re-enact expiring and expired 
 laws for a limited period. Sir Charles (afterwards Lord) 
 Metcalfe was sent to Jamaica as governor, with instructions 
 to endeavour to effect a reconciliation between the contending 
 parties without reference to the special enactment ; but if this 
 became impossible, then to govern the colony according to the 
 Imperial Act. Sir Charles Metcalfe met the legislature for 
 the first time on the 22nd October 1839, and delivered a 
 conciliatory speech. In their reply the Assembly justified 
 their past conduct, but receded from their previous resolution, 
 and then proceeded to business. 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 45 
 
 11. Among the measures recommended by the Governor, 
 and passed by the legislature, was one for establishing a new 
 judicial system, under which provision was made for a Vice- 
 Chancellor, Chief-Justice, two assistant Judges, and nine 
 chairmen of Quarter Sessions, all to be legally trained. 
 Laws were also passed for abolishing the sentence of death 
 in all cases except such as were similarly punished in Eng- 
 land, and for legalising marriages by Dissenting ministers. 
 The currency was assimilated to that of the United Kingdom, 
 and a number of white immigrants from Scotland and Ire- 
 land were introduced. Many of the descendants of the 
 Maroons who were transported in 1796 returned to the colony, 
 and resumed their residence here. Sir Charles Metcalfe left 
 the island on the 21st May 1842. amidst the regrets of the 
 inhabitants. "He had reconciled the colony with the mother 
 country ; he had reconciled all classes of colonial society : and 
 whilst he had won the approbation of his sovereign, he had 
 carried with him also the hearts of the people." The 
 Assembly subsequently voted the sum of 3,000 for the 
 erection of a monument to perpetuate his memory. 
 
 12. Lord Elgin assumed the government. During two 
 years and a half there was a gloom over the island, in con- 
 sequence of a succession of earthquakes, storms, and floods ; 
 but his Lordship ultimately distinguished his government by 
 his efforts to improve the social condition of the colony, and 
 develop its varied industrial resources. The Eoyal Agricul- 
 tural Society, and several parochial associations of a similar 
 kind, were established under his presidency, and a variety of 
 improvements in modes of cultivation, machinery, &c., were 
 introduced through his instrumentality. Immigration from 
 India was authorised by the Imperial Government, and the 
 first batch of coolies arrived in 1845. New breeds of cattle 
 were also brought to the island. The Jamaica Railway was 
 opened for traffic, and the foundation stone of the General 
 Penitentiary was laid. But the beneficial effect of these 
 important improvements were soon to be displaced by de- 
 spondency and retrogression. In August 1846 the Imperial 
 
46 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Parliament passed an Act for the gradual equalisation of the 
 sugar duties on British and foreign productions, and the 
 Assembly, in the succeeding November, declared that they 
 were in consequence unable to continue the institutions of the 
 colony on their present scale, or to defray the future expense 
 of coolie immigration. 
 
 13. Just about that time Sir Charles Edward Grey arrived 
 as governor. The legislature met (according to adjournment) 
 on the 15th February 1847, and petitions were presented from 
 all parts of the island praying for a reduction of the salaries of 
 the public officers, and the curtailment of the expenditure of 
 all public institutions. Thereupon the war of retrenchment 
 began. Bill after bill embodying the retrenchment scheme 
 was passed, session after session, by the Assembly, but re- 
 jected by the Council. Mr. Justice Stevenson (afterwards Sir 
 William Stevenson) protested, in a letter published in the 
 "Morning Journal" newspaper, against this continued en- 
 deavour of the Assembly " to violate public faith, and con- 
 fiscate the property of public men," and he was committed to 
 gaol for a breach of the privileges of the House. A few days 
 after this incident (which caused the retirement of Mr. Steven- 
 son from the judicial bench of the colony) the legislature 
 was prorogued, to enable them again to deal with the revenue 
 bills which were about to expire. (Continuing bills had been 
 rejected by the Council on account of the revenue having been 
 appropriated to the payment of certain items of expenditure 
 only.) On their reassembling, the rejected measures were 
 again passed by the Assembly and sent to the Council, where 
 they were again as summarily rejected. The 30th April 1853 
 arrived, and on that day the annual laws levying the import 
 and rum duties expired, and on the following day Jamaica was 
 a free port. The Treasury was then in utter bankruptcy, arid 
 the island notes, issued by the Commissioners of Accounts to 
 meet pressing and unavoidable expenses, were at a discount 
 of from 30 to 40 per cent. The loss of revenue arising out of 
 the failure of the revenue bills amounted to 130,000. 
 
 14. Every effort made by Sir Charles Grey to reconcile the 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 47 
 
 differences between the Council and the Assembly utterly 
 failed; and at length the disagreement became one of a personal 
 character between the executive and the Assembly. Sir 
 Charles Grey was charged by the Assembly with unduly in- 
 fluencing and supporting the Council, which was then almost 
 entirely composed of office-holders, in their opposition to a 
 reduction of the salaries of themselves and other officials of 
 the island, and with invasions of the rights and privileges of 
 the Assembly with regard to the raising and appropriating 
 of public moneys. His Excellency, in reply, informed the 
 House that the " pleasure, or the pain, or the indifference, with 
 which he heard remarks upon his public conduct, depended 
 mainly upon the estimation in which he held those by whom 
 they were made." This infuriated the opposition, and the 
 following resolution was, on the 20th May 1853, agreed to by 
 a majority of ten : < That in consequence of the rejection of 
 the revenue bills by the second branch of the legislature 
 during the last session, and the recklessness and utter dis- 
 regard of the interests of the colony thereby displayed, and 
 this House having failed in their endeavours made at the 
 opening of the present session to obtain any assurance that 
 the honourable the Board of Council will make any concession, 
 however reasonable, the House feels that it cannot, with any 
 confidence, continue to originate legislative measures for the 
 benefit of its constituents, and in self-respect, and in vindi- 
 cation of the rights of the people, it declines to do any business 
 with the honourable Board of Council." On the passing of this 
 resolution the House adjourned, and the "dead-lock" con- 
 tinued. 
 
 15. The whole question was in the meantime brought under 
 the consideration of the Imperial Government, and the period 
 of Sir Charles Grey's administration having, unfortunately for 
 the Colonial Secretary, about then expired, Sir Henry Barkly 
 was commissioned as Governor of Jamaica. " Sir Henry had 
 been a sugar planter in Demerara, and had been sent to that 
 colony to settle the retrenchment question there, and had 
 done so to the satisfaction of all parties. The retrenchment 
 
48 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 party therefore saw in him a sympathiser and a deliverer, 
 and he was heartily welcomed by them, and, indeed, by the 
 entire community. The members of Assembly transformed 
 their legislative hall into a ball-room, and subscribed liberally 
 to a magnificent entertainment to Sir Henry and Lady 
 Barkly." 
 
 Sir Henry Barkly called the legislature together, for a new 
 session, at the earliest opportunity after his arrival ; and in 
 his opening speech he fully expressed himself on the questions 
 at issue. " What Jamaica stands pre-eminently in need of at 
 the present stage of her political progress," said His Excellency, 
 " is a strong executive administration, consisting of upright 
 and intelligent men, chosen from among her own citizens, to 
 devote themselves to the exclusive study of her condition 
 charged with the sole responsibility in all matters of finance, 
 and serving as an acknowledged medium of communication 
 between the representative of the Crown, the Council, and 
 the House of Assembly." The recommendation was adopted, 
 and the Act for the better government of the island was 
 passed, under which the Governor was authorised to appoint 
 an Executive Committee, to consist of not more than four 
 members of the legislature. 
 
 16. In consideration of the adoption of this measure, and 
 the provision of a permanent revenue of .25,000 per annum, 
 to be appropriated in payment of the salaries of the Judges, 
 the Executive Committee, the Eeceiver-General, and several 
 other public officers, the Imperial Government guaranteed a 
 loan of 500,000 at 4 per cent., to pay off the debts of the 
 colony. At the same time the Legislative Council was de- 
 prived of its functions as a Privy Council, and the number 
 was increased to seventeen members. A new Privy Council 
 was formed, consisting of sixteen members. Sir Henry 
 Barkly was sworn in as Captain-General and Governor-in- 
 Chief under the new constitution, and the first Executive 
 Committee was appointed : these were Mr. (afterwards Sir) 
 Bryan Edwards in the Legislative Council, and Mr. Edward 
 Jordan and Mr. Henry Westmoreland in the Assembly. 
 
FKOM 1831 TO 1865. 49 
 
 17. While these political questions were agitating the 
 country, considerable alarm was created by rumours of an 
 approaching rebellion of the negroes. " The ground- work of 
 the whole matter" was declared to be "the belief of the 
 peasantry that the United States of America were likely to 
 take possession of the island, and to reduce them (the negroes) 
 to slavery. This belief, it was supposed, had originated from 
 the mention which had been made in some of the American 
 papers, of the distressed state of the island, and the good 
 which would result from its annexation, with Cuba, to the 
 United States ; " and what the planters had said " on the 
 subject of relief from Great Britain, as well as other persons, 
 some very influential." The Governor made some arrange- 
 ments to have a sufficient force available, if any disturbance 
 should occur in the districts where it was apprehended, and 
 issued a proclamation to quiet the minds of the peasantry, by 
 assuring them that there was no danger that any attempt 
 would again be made to reduce them to slavery. These 
 measures were successful, and ail cause for alarm soon passed 
 away. 
 
 18. In the year 1850 Asiatic cholera had made its appear- 
 ance for the first time in Jamaica. It first occurred at Port 
 Royal, and afterwards severely scourged nearly every parish 
 in the island. The mortality was estimated at 32,000 persons, 
 or about one in thirteen of the population at the time. A 
 second visitation of this disease occurred three years later, 
 but its ravages and duration were not as great as was the case 
 in 1850. The first session of the legislature, under the new 
 constitution, was devoted to the passing of laws for effecting 
 financial reforms, and restoring public credit ; but there was 
 still an empty Treasury, and heavy arrears were outstanding. 
 For five years the Receiver-General was unable to pay in full 
 all claims against the Treasury, and the cry for retrenchment 
 still prevailed. This was effected in the second session under 
 the new constitution, when the judicial, clergy, and other 
 establishments were reduced on equitable terms, and the 
 holders of abolished offices were placed on the pension list 
 
50 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 which was then created. Sir Henry Barkly having effected 
 these objects, was transferred, on promotion, to Victoria, and 
 Mr. (afterwards Sir) C. H. Darling appointed Governor. 
 
 19. Governor Darling, after " a careful consideration of the 
 relative bearing of the several clauses of the Act for the better 
 government of the island," informed the Executive Committee 
 that he had arrived at the conclusion that "it was the inten- 
 tion of the legislature to establish in Jamaica the main 
 principle, at least, upon which responsible government in 
 other colonies rests, namely, that in all important questions, 
 which are of a purely domestic nature, the colony should be 
 governed according to the well-understood views and wishes 
 of the constituencies (assumed to be the people), as expressed 
 by their representatives in the legislature." Messrs. Jordan, 
 Hosack, and Price, the then members of the Executive 
 Committee, contended that " the theory of the government 
 established by the Act for the better government of the island, 
 made the Governor for the time being alone responsible for 
 the acts of the Government ;" and that "responsible govern- 
 ment, which was what the Governor sought to establish, was 
 unsuited to this country. 7 ' 
 
 20. Mr. Darling differed from the members of the committee, 
 and they submitted their resignations. Messrs. E. W. Smith, 
 Geo. Solomon, and the Baron Von Ketelhodt were there- 
 upon appointed to office on the principle of ministerial 
 responsibility. Mr. Solomon, on entering on his duties as 
 financial minister, presented a statement to the Assembly, 
 showing a deficit in the Treasury of 58,061 18s. 3d., and 
 obtained a law providing for the issue, if necessary, of 
 ,20,000 of Treasury bonds to meet immediate claims. Soon 
 after, Governor Darling left the island on leave, and Mr. 
 Edward John Eyre was appointed lieutenant-governor. 
 The Assembly met in November 1862, and the intensity of 
 former political struggles soon manifested itself in opposition 
 to the Executive Committee. Early in the following year it 
 became necessary to dissolve the House, and on the meeting 
 of the new Assembly, Mr. Westmoreland moved an address 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 51 
 
 to the Lieutenant-Governor, declaring "that having regard 
 to the mal-administration of the financial affairs of the colony, 
 the continuance in office of his Excellency's present constitu- 
 tional advisers is incompatible with the due progress of the 
 public business and the island." The address was passed by 
 a majority of one, and Mr. Smith and his colleagues resigned. 
 Messrs. Jordan, Westmoreland, and Phillips (the latter being 
 subsequently replaced by Mr. Price) were appointed their 
 successors. 
 
 21. This did not secure political tranquillity, and it was not 
 long before the Lieutenant-Governor and the Assembly came 
 into direct collision, and the Assembly (or rather thirteen 
 members of that body, acting as a quorum) " declined to 
 proceed to any further business with his Excellency." This 
 determination was the result of Mr Eyre's having instructed 
 the Attorney-General "to adopt proceedings, by way of 
 habeas corpus, to impeach the right of the Assembly to 
 imprison persons for contempt." (Mr. Ewart, the agent- 
 general of immigration, had been imprisoned by the House 
 for declining to reply to certain questions concerning his office, 
 which had been submitted to him by a committee of the 
 Assembly, on the ground that the information he possessed 
 was "privileged.") Just about this time Mr. Darling was 
 transferred to Victoria, and Mr. Eyre appointed Governor-in- 
 Chief the Secretary of State (the Duke of Newcastle) having 
 promoted him in testimony of his approval of the course he 
 had adopted in the recent conflict with the Assembly. 
 
 22. Whilst these political questions were agitating the 
 country, "a drought had desolated the provision grounds, and 
 deprived the peasantry of the usual food. The American War 
 and increased taxation on imports had also made costly the 
 supply of breadstuff's." Agitators availed themselves of these 
 calamities to excite the public mind. A public meeting was 
 held in Kingston, under the presidency of Mr. George William 
 Gordon, at which a resolution was passed, "calling upon all 
 the descendants of Africa, in every parish throughout the 
 island, to form themselves into societies, and hold public 
 
52 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 meetings, and co-operate, for the purpose of setting forth 
 their grievances." The greater number of the speeches de- 
 livered at these meetings were of a seditious character, and 
 a committee, designated "The Central Communicating Com- 
 mittee," was formed, with its headquarters in St. David. 
 
 23. The movement thus inaugurated soon had its natural 
 effect. On the llth October 1865, the vestry of St. Thomas- 
 in-the-East met for the transaction of their ordinary business. 
 At about three o'clock some hundreds of people, armed with 
 cutlasses, sticks, muskets, and bayonets, entered the square in 
 front of the court-house at Morant Bay, and declared for 
 " war." They were all blacks, and their cry was, " colour for 
 colour," " blood for blood." They began their overt acts by 
 stoning the volunteers, who were drawn up in front of the 
 court-house, (a disturbance having been anticipated), and 
 Captain Hitchins was struck in the forehead. The Riot Act 
 was read, and the volunteers fired, but they were soon over- 
 powered. A hand-to-hand struggle ensued, during which 
 Captain Hitchins, faint from the loss of blood, rested on the 
 knee of a volunteer the rifle he had taken from a murdered 
 comrade, and fired his two remaining rounds of ammunition. 
 He was then surrounded and hacked to death. All the 
 officers and many of the members of the volunteer corps 
 "nobly died at their posts, gallantly doing their duty." 
 (Governor Eyre's report to Mr. Secretary Cardwell.) The 
 custos of the parish, the curate of Bath, the inspector of 
 police, and a number of magistrates and other personages 
 were also murdered. 
 
 24. On intelligence of the outbreak reaching the seat of 
 government, troops were immediately despatched to the 
 disaffected district, and martial law was proclaimed. The 
 Maroons of Scot's Hall and Moore Town were called out ; 
 and, headed by their veteran chief, Colonel Fyfe, took the 
 field, and did good service in arresting the fugitive rebels. 
 The pensioners of the West India Regiments residing in 
 Jamaica were called to their colours, and responded with 
 alacrity. In Kingston the number of volunteers increased 
 
FROM 1831 TO 1865. 53 
 
 within three days from one hundred and fifty rank and file 
 to over five hundred, and additional volunteer companies 
 were improvised in every parish of the island. "Within 
 three days from the first intelligence of the rebellion reaching 
 Kingston, it was headed, checked and hemmed in, and within 
 a week it was fairly crushed." The military and volunteers, 
 however, remained on guard and transport duty during the 
 entire month of martial law ; and their services were 
 appreciatively acknowledged by the Governor in his opening 
 speech to the legislature ; and they received the thanks of 
 the Legislative Council and the Assembly. The relatives 
 dependent upon those who fell in the engagement of the 
 llth October were pensioned by the legislature. Mr. Gordon 
 was arrested, tried by court-martial, and hanged ; and a num- 
 ber of the actual ringleaders amongst the insurgents were 
 similarly dealt with. 
 
 25. On intelligence of the outbreak reaching England, Sir 
 Henry Knight Storks was despatched to Jamaica, to assume 
 the government, and to act as president of a royal commission 
 of inquiry. He was associated with Mr. Eussell Gurney, 
 the Recorder of London, and Mr. J. B. Maule, the Recorder 
 of Leeds. The conclusions arrived at by them were "(1) 
 That the punishments inflicted during martial law were 
 excessive ; (2) that the punishment of death was unnecessarily 
 frequent ; (3) that the floggings were reckless, and at Bath 
 positively barbarous ; (4) that the burning of one thousand 
 houses was wanton and cruel." The Commissioners also 
 reported that the "disturbances had their immediate origin 
 in a planned resistance to lawful authority ; " and that " a 
 principal object of the disturbers of order was the obtaining 
 of land free from the payment of rent." Her Majesty's 
 government, while giving Governor Eyre "full credit for 
 those portions of his conduct to which credit was justly due, 
 felt compelled, by the result of the enquiry, to disapprove of 
 other portions of his conduct," and declined to replace him in 
 the government of the colony. Mr. Eyre thereupon left 
 Jamaica. 
 
54 HISTOEY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 26. The legislature had previously, at the instance of 
 Governor Eyre, passed a law to abolish the then existing 
 constitution, and to empower Her Majesty the Queen "to 
 create and constitute a government for this island in such 
 form and with such powers as to Her Majesty may best seem 
 fitting/' and the Act had received the assent of the Crown. 
 Thus was brought to a close a representative institution 
 which had existed for 202 years, and which had exercised 
 powers, in some respects, in excess of those of the British 
 House of Commons itself. 
 
 CHAPTEE V. FKOM 1866 TO 1883. 
 
 1. Effect had been given to the law passed by the Assembly 
 to alter and amend the constitution, by an Act of the Imperial 
 Parliament. Sir John Peter Grant, K.C.B., as Governor, 
 arrived on the 5th of August 1866, an order in council 
 having been previously issued, establishing a new legislature 
 and a new Privy Council. Unofficial members of council 
 were appointed, and the first session convened. Various 
 important measures were passed, providing for the internal 
 government of the island ; and the Governor reported to the 
 colonial minister that "security and tranquillity were be- 
 ginning to have their natural effect in turning the attention 
 of capitalists to a colony whose resources were unbounded." 
 Also, that " a state of contentment, and of willing obedience 
 to the law, in striking contrast with the state of feeling 
 reported to have existed in 1865, has shown itself not only 
 in the absence of all riotous spirit, but in a great diminution 
 of ordinary crime." 
 
 2. Indictments were prepared here and in London agaiust 
 parties engaged in the suppression of the rebellion in Jamaica, 
 but the bills were ignored, and the prisoners released. During 
 this and the following years criminal proceedings were taken 
 in England on three several occasions, and on various charges, 
 against Mr. Eyre, but without effect. A semi-military con- 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 55 
 
 stabulary force was organised. In 1868 the volunteer force 
 disbanded ; and the Public Works Department organised under 
 Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Mann, R.E., as director of roads, 
 superintendent of public works, and surveyor-general. The 
 number of parishes were reduced from 22 to 14, nearly equal- 
 ising them, and making each a complete system in itself, in 
 the judicial, police, revenue, immigration, pauper and medical 
 departments, and in its system of parochial roads. 
 
 3. During this year, too, the new system of grants in aid 
 of elementary schools was introduced. Coolie immigration 
 was resumed, after an interval of four years. Postal arrange- 
 ments made for three times a week instead of twice. District 
 courts introduced, framed on the model of the English County 
 Courts. Permanent plantations of cinchona at public cost. 
 The first impulse given to the fruit-trade with America, in 
 bananas especially. The value of fruit exported in 1867 was 
 only 728. The organisation of the Government Medical 
 Department, for the purpose of providing the inhabitants, 
 especially of the rural districts, with medical attendance and 
 medicines. 
 
 4. 1869, January 1th. Opening of communication, by the 
 West India and Panama Telegraph Company, between Havana 
 and Jamaica, whereby the island was placed in telegraphic 
 communication with Cuba, the United States, and Europe. 
 
 July. Opening of the railway from Spanish Town to Old 
 Harbour Market, a distance of 11 miles. 
 
 The "La Have" with papers showing that Kingston was 
 her destination, and with a cargo of guns and munitions of 
 war, was captured on the high seas by a Spanish war-ship, and 
 towed into Port Eoyal. The cargo was detained by order of 
 Governor Sir J. P. Grant, on the advice of Mr. Attorney- 
 General Heslop, under an inland statute which declares that 
 " munitions of war shipped at a foreign port are forfeited to 
 the Crown if imported into Jamaica/' Actions for damages 
 were filed by the owners of the vessel and cargo against Sir 
 J. P. Grant, the amount claimed being .33,000. After the 
 first case had been heard, and a verdict had been given against 
 
56 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 the defendant, a compromise was effected, the Governor giving: 
 his promissory note, payable in six months, for 7,920, with 
 interest at 8 per cent., and restoring the arms and ammunition. 
 
 5. September 30^. A large surplus of revenue over expen- 
 diture reported, the amount being 58,896, and attributed to 
 the increased yield of the ordinary imports by means of better 
 collection, &c. The exportation of wood during the year was 
 111,044 tons, of the value of ,272,057 ; the quantity exported 
 in 1839 was 895 tons, of the value of 2,685. 
 
 Mr. John Lucie Smith, C.M.G., attorney-general of British 
 Guiana (subsequently knighted) was appointed Chief Justice 
 in lieu of Sir Bryan Edwards, resigned. 
 
 December 3lst. The Church of England in Jamaica dis- 
 established on the expiry of the clergy law. 
 
 6. 1870. Government Savings Bank established. The 
 Legislative Council passed a vote for redeeming the promissory 
 note given by Sir J. P. Grant in the case of the " La Have" 
 but requested his Excellency " to urge upon the Secretary of 
 State, in as strong a manner as his Excellency might deem fit, 
 the justice of the British Government refunding the amount 
 to the colony, the seizure having been made for the purpose 
 of carrying out imperial policy and international law." The 
 amount was refunded. 
 
 7. 1871. The Government purchased and extended the 
 Kingston and Liguanea Waterworks. Grand juries abol- 
 ished, and the superior Courts of Law and Equity trans- 
 ferred from Spanish Town to Kingston. Abolition of im- 
 prisonment for debt. Census of the population taken with 
 the following result : 
 
 Males . , 246,573 White . . 13,101 
 
 Females . 259,581 Coloured . 100,346 
 
 Black . . 392,707 
 
 506,154 506,154 
 
 Showing an increase of 64,890, or 147 per cent., in the last ten 
 years. 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 57 
 
 8. 1872. Reduction of postage on prepaid letters from 
 threepence to twopence per half ounce, to all parts of the 
 island. The Legislative Council and Colonial Secretariat, and 
 the Governor's residence, removed to Kingston and vicinity, 
 thus completing the final transfer of the seat of government 
 from Spanish Town to Kingston. 
 
 9. The surplus of the financial year amounted to ,33,415. 
 " This is a very satisfactory result (wrote Sir John Peter Grant 
 to the Secretary of State), inasmuch. as this continuing surplus 
 accrues with no increase of taxation, and is in the face of a 
 large expenditure on public works of utility and importance ; 
 of a largely increasing expenditure on such departments as 
 those of education and medicine, and of some increase of 
 expenditure in those administrative and revenue departments 
 which necessarily require development as the population and 
 wealth of the colony become developed." 
 
 10. 1874. Annexation of the Turks and Caicos islands to 
 the government of Jamaica. Sir J. P. Grant retired, and 
 Sir William Grey assumed the government of the colony. 
 The Dry River or Rio Minho Bridge completed and opened 
 for traffic. A hurricane occurred by which many of the 
 "provision grounds" or cultivated fields of the peasantry 
 were destroyed, and other damages sustained throughout the 
 island. The largest importation of food ever known in the 
 island took place, and 266,790 import duties were collected. 
 
 11. 1876. A collection of Jamaica products exhibited with 
 very satisfactory results at the International Exhibition held 
 at Philadelphia, U.S.A., during the year thirty-one awards 
 having been obtained by the island, of which nine were for 
 coffee, six for rum, two for tobacco, two for vegetable fibres, &c. 
 A special award was adjudged to the Government for the 
 collective display of these products. Tramway cars started in 
 Kingston, through the enterprise of a private company. 
 
 12. 1877. Sir William Grey having relinquished the 
 government, its administration devolved on Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor Rushworth, C.M.G. Jamaica admitted into the Postal 
 Union. Kingston lighted with gas. 
 
58 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 August 10. Lieutenant-Governor Eushworth died, and the 
 government was assumed by Major-General Mann, E.E., as 
 President of the Privy Council. 
 
 August 22. The schooner "Florence" arrived at Port Royal, 
 reported as being in distress, landed her cargo of arms and 
 ammunition at Fort Augusta, and was permitted to enter 
 Kingston harbour for repairs. 
 
 13. August 24. His Excellency Sir Anthony Musgrave, 
 K.C.M.G., arrived, and immediately assumed the government 
 as Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief. 
 
 - September 28. The schooner "Florence" having completed 
 her repairs, she was required by the government, on the advice 
 of Mr. Attorney-General O'Malley, to enter into security to 
 proceed direct to Saint Thomas, her reported place of destina- 
 tion, with her cargo of arms and ammunition. This necessarily 
 occasioned delay and detention until one thousand pounds as 
 a guarantee was lodged in the Treasury by her consignees. 
 This was refunded on the production of a certificate from the 
 British consul at St. Thomas as to the fulfilment of the contract. 
 A deficit of <1,750 occurred in the island Treasury this year, 
 caused by the falling off in the receipts for imports and rum 
 duties, consequent on excessive commercial failures. 
 
 November 22. A commission appointed to enquire into and 
 report upon the extent, composition, and organisation of the 
 several public departments of the island. 
 
 14. 1878. The immigration debt of ^35,000 assumed by 
 the government, and new arrangements for carrying on East 
 Indian immigration promulgated, the principal feature of 
 which was that no new loans should be contracted. 
 
 Department for the registration of births and deaths 
 organised. 
 
 Mr. Edward Newton, C.M.G., succeeds the late Mr. Eush- 
 worth as Lieutenant-Governor and Colonial Secretary. 
 
 1879. Passing of the new marriage law, which provides for 
 the appointment of marriage officers, and for purely civil 
 marriages where the parties so desire. A divorce law was also 
 passed. Also laws remodelling the judicial system. 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 59 
 
 15. Purchase by the government of the Jamaica Railway 
 for the sum of 90,000. Surveys for the extension of the 
 line from Old Harbour to Porus, and from the Angels to 
 Ewarton, made by Mr. Valentine Bell, C.E. Extension 
 sanctioned by the Secretary of State. 
 
 Retirement of Dr. Courtenay from the bishopric of Kingston. 
 
 October 8th to 13^. Heavy rains, which caused great de- 
 struction of property and some loss of life. Establishment of 
 telegraphic communication throughout the island in con- 
 nection with the post-office department. 
 
 Dr. Tozer appointed bishop of Jamaica. 
 
 16. ] 880. Arrival of their Royal Highnesses Prince Albert 
 Victor and George, sons of the Prince of Wales, in H.M. ship 
 "Bacchante" and their entertainment by the Lieutenant- 
 Govern or. 
 
 July 15th. Election by the Synod of the Church of Eng- 
 land in Jamaica, of the Rev. Enos Nuttall, B.D., as bishop of 
 the diocese, in the room of Dr. Tozer, resigned. The Rev. 
 Mr. Nuttall subsequently proceeded to England, and was 
 created a Doctor of Divinity, and consecrated by the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury as bishop of Jamaica. 
 
 17. A severe drought continued from June to the beginning 
 of August, when ordinary rains fell. On the 18th August a 
 cyclone passed over the eastern half of the island, which lasted 
 for about five hours, and did considerable damage to public 
 and private property, and to the growing crops of the peasantry. 
 Nearly all the wharves in the Kingston harbour were de- 
 stroyed, and the shipping sustained much injury. Five persons 
 were drowned, and twenty-five died from the falling of houses 
 or from exposure. Subscriptions towards a relief fund were 
 offered by the government of Barbados, the 1st W. I. Regiment 
 and the Atlas Steamship Company, but declined by his Ex- 
 cellency the Governor, on the ground that " the only injury 
 done by the cyclone, the reparation of which might not be 
 immediately within local means, was the destruction or injury 
 of churches and chapels of all denominations, estimated in 
 respect to the Church of England alone at over 8,000." 
 
60 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 18. September 30^. The value of the fruits exported dur- 
 ing the year was 51,316. The value of the entire exports 
 (including the principal minor exports) was 1,616,857, or 
 630,712 more than in 1865. The value of the principal 
 staples (sugar, rum, and coffee) was 1,055,512, or 60,613 in 
 excess of 1839, the first year after the emancipation of the 
 slaves. Accumulations of the Government Savings Bank, 
 100,000, remitted to England for investment. 
 
 19. 1881. The Atlas Steamship Company began their con- 
 tract with the government for a weekly steam communication 
 round the island. 
 
 A census taken 
 
 Males .... 282,957 
 Females. . . . 297,847 
 
 Total 580,804 
 
 Census of 1871 . 506,154 
 
 Excess in 10 years 74,650 
 
 20. Two actions were tried in the Kingston Circuit Court, 
 at the suit of General Pulido of Venezuela, against Governor 
 Sir Anthony Musgrave and Mr. Eichard Gillard, collector of 
 customs, for the detention in 1877 of the schooner "Florence" 
 and her cargo of arms and ammunition. Damages were laid 
 at 18,000. Verdicts amounting to 6,700 were given. 
 
 November 8th. A fire occurred in King Street, Kingston, 
 by which property to the extent of 5,000 was destroyed. 
 
 21. November ^Lnd. The Legislative Council met, when the 
 Governor announced a deficit of 44,446 on the accounts of 
 the financial year. "This," his Excellency said, "ought not 
 to be altogether surprising in a year which was admitted to 
 have been one of severe distress to the masses of the people, 
 almost all over the colony, in consequence of the protracted 
 drought which succeeded the cyclone of August last year." 
 An anticipated deficit of 16,702 on the ordinary requirements 
 of the succeeding financial year was also announced. To meet 
 the total deficit (61,148), the Legislative Council, at the 
 
FKOM 1866 TO 1883. 61 
 
 instance of the government, increased the duty on rum from 
 5s. to 8s. per gallon, and imposed an additional 10 per cent, on 
 all customs duties. 
 
 22. December. A despatch from the Secretary of State, 
 directing the Governor to apply to the Legislative Council for 
 a vote to cover the damages and costs in the suits for the de- 
 tention of the "Florence" was laid before the Board, and 
 referred to a select committee. The report of the committee 
 stated that "the Council would not be justified in sanctioning 
 the vote, as the detention was made entirely to protect im- 
 perial interests, and in no way could this island derive any 
 benefit therefrom." The report was disagreed to by the 
 Council, and the further consideration of the question was 
 postponed until after the Christmas recess. Public meetings 
 in support of the views of the select committee were held in 
 Kingston and several other parishes. 
 
 23. 1882, January Wlh. The Legislative Council met. 
 Petitions were presented from the several parishes against the 
 passing of any vote of money for the damages and costs in 
 the case of the " Florence" and a resolution was carried, by the 
 votes of the unofficial members, to the effect that the Board 
 recorded its agreement with the prayers of those petitions. 
 Mr. Geo. Solomon brought forward a series of resolutions, of 
 which one was carried by the votes of the unofficial members, 
 which ran as follows : " That the expenditure of the island 
 during the fifteen years of Crown government has been in 
 excess in the aggregate to the extent of 2,000,000 over any 
 similar period in the history of the colony, without, in the 
 opinion of the Council, an adequate advantage being derived 
 therefrom." 
 
 24. The rest of the series of resolutions were rejected by the 
 Council. They were principally to the effect that the expend- 
 iture of the island during the above period had been regulated 
 by temporary prosperity, brought about by a number of fortui- 
 tous circumstances ; that in fact there had been general im- 
 poverishment of the people, causing much discontent, and an 
 alarming increase of crime throughout the islanfl ; that the ex- 
 
62 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 penditure of the colony should be reduced, the salary of any 
 new Governor to be ^5,000 a year, instead of .7,000 ; that the 
 inhabitants of the island were greatly dissatisfied with the 
 existing constitution, particularly with regard to the admin- 
 istration of its fiuancies ; that the Governor should not act as 
 the president of the Legislative Council ; and that the non-publi- 
 cation of the Civil Service Commissioners had impressed the 
 public mind and the Council with the unwillingness of the 
 government to make reforms needed by the depressed con- 
 dition of the colony. 
 
 25. The Honourable John Charles McGlashan, Auditor- 
 General, and the Honourable Samuel Constantino Burke, 
 Crown Solicitor and Assistant Attorney-General on the eastern 
 circuit, resigned their seats in the Council as official members, 
 and the Protector of Immigrants and Chief Inspector of 
 Schools were appointed in their stead. 
 
 26. The official members then were : 
 
 By virtue of their Offices : 
 
 His Excellency Edward Newton, C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor 
 
 and Colonial Secretary. 
 The Hon. Colonel Somerset Molyneux Wiseman-Clarke, senior 
 
 military officer in command of Her Majesty's 
 
 regular troops. And 
 The Hon. Henry Hicks Hocking, Attorney-General. 
 
 By Royal Warrant: 
 
 The Hon. Major-General James Robert Mann, RE., C.M.G., 
 Director of Public Works. 
 
 The Hon. Daniel Power Trench, Collector-General. 
 
 The Hon. Edward Noel Walker, Assistant Colonial Secretary. 
 
 The Hon. Dr. Chas. Benjamin Mosse, C.B., Superintending 
 Medical Officer. 
 
 The Hon. Arthur Harvey Alexander, Protector of Immi- 
 grants, and 
 
 The Hon. Thomas Capper, Inspector of Schools. 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 63 
 
 Un-Official Members: 
 
 Honourable James Henry McDowell. 
 
 James Mitchell Gibb. 
 
 George Solomon. 
 
 Leicester Colville Shirley. 
 
 Henry Sewell. 
 
 Michael Solomon. 
 
 William Kerr. 
 
 George Henderson. 
 
 27. January 31s?. Despatches from the Secretary of State, 
 on the several portions of the report of the Civil Service 
 Commissioners, were presented to the Legislative Council. 
 The more important changes directed by the Secretary of State 
 in consequence of the report were, that the headquarters 
 and residence of the Inspector-General of Police should be 
 transferred to Kingston ; that the other law offices should be 
 made subordinate to the Attorney-General ; that the office of 
 Treasurer should be combined with that of Collector-General, 
 under the title of Receiver-General this officer to be a member 
 of the Legislative Council, and the official exponent of the 
 estimates in council ; that the title Director of Public Works 
 should be substituted for that of Director of Roads and 
 Surveyor-General, and that the Director should have a pro- 
 fessional subordinate at the head of each of the principal 
 subdivisions of his department, namely, railway, roads and 
 bridges, and general work ; and that the counter-stamping 
 department of the Treasury should be abolished. 
 
 28. Annexation of the Morant and l^edro Cays, as depen- 
 dencies of Jamaica, announced by proclamation. On his return 
 from a short vacation leave, Sir Anthony Musgrave was 
 presented with an address, signed by 415 leading citizens of 
 Kingston, congratulating him on his return, and recounting 
 his services in establishing local telegraphs, and the coastal 
 steam service, and promoting railway extension. His Ex- 
 cellency was at the same time requested to forward a memorial 
 
64 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 to the Secretary of State, praying that his term of office as 
 Governor of the colony might be extended. 
 
 29. November 7th. Legislative Council met. The business 
 was opened by an address from the Governor, in which his 
 Excellency reviewed the financial position of the colony at the 
 beginning of the financial year. His Excellency reported that 
 the deficit on the annual accounts, which stood at 44,395 on 
 the 1st of October 1881, had been reduced at the same date in 
 1882 to the sum of .20,226 ; which results had been obtained 
 by a diminution of the amount of annual charges for debt to 
 the extent of 12,429, and by a reduction of expenditure under 
 votes granted to the extent of 18,935, amounting to a saving 
 expenditure of 31,364. The revenue had been aided to the 
 extent of 15,161 by the sum of certain sinking funds set free 
 by arrangements under Law 19 of 1880 ; and the sum of 
 9,700, consisting of the profits on the past transactions of the 
 Savings Banks, were transferred in aid of the general revenue 
 as the proceeds of a public institution. In view of the reduc- 
 tion of the deficit, it was considered unnecessary to continue 
 the additional 10 per cent, on the import duties imposed by 
 Law 26 of 1881, but it was considered expedient to continue 
 for another year the excise on rum, at the rate of 8s. a gallon. 
 
 30. A minute from the Governor was read, laying before 
 the Council a copy of a despatch from the Secretary of State 
 for the Colonies, stating that Her Majesty's Government would 
 be prepared to ask Parliament to consent to the payment of 
 one-half of the amount of the damages and costs of the suits 
 respecting the schooner "Florence" on learning that the 
 payment of the other half from colonial funds had been 
 sanctioned by the Legislative Council ; and directing the 
 Governor to bring a vote for the amount before the Council. 
 His Excellency accordingly requested the Council to pass the 
 vote required. 
 
 31. On the motion for the vote being put to the Council, 
 eight official members, and the commander of the forces, voted 
 in support of it, and the six unofficial members present voted 
 against it. 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 65 
 
 At the meeting of the Council on the llth November, the 
 Governor announced that since their last meeting he had 
 received the resignations of six unofficial members, namely, 
 Messrs. McDowell, Gibb, Shirley, Michael Solomon, Kerr, and 
 Henderson. Mr. Sewell, who was in England, tendered his 
 resignation direct to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 
 
 32. December llth. Calamitous fire in Kingston, by which 
 the greater part of the business portion of the town, including 
 the wharves, was destroyed, much valuable property consumed, 
 and great distress occasioned to the poorer classes. A fund 
 was speedily organised for the relief of the sufferers, to which 
 liberal contributions were made by the inhabitants of the 
 colony, and from other colonies, from England, and from the 
 United States of America. Amongst the important buildings 
 burnt were the Government Savings Bank and Telegraph 
 Office ; the Ordnance Stores and Wharf, the property of the 
 Imperial Government ; the premises of the Colonial Bank, 
 with the exception of the resident clerk's quarters ; and the 
 two Jewish synagogues. The area of the portion of the city 
 over which the fire extended was about forty acres, containing 
 589 houses. The market value of house property destroyed 
 was estimated at between .150,000 and ^200,000. 
 
 33. An elaborate paper was prepared by the Bishop of 
 Jamaica, embodying suggestions as to the reconstruction of 
 the burnt portions of the city ; and this paper was read before 
 a meeting of the Fire Relief Committee, deputations from 
 which body subsequently waited upon the Governor, to press 
 upon his Excellency the necessity of raising a loan, to enable 
 the Government to make advances for the purpose of re- 
 building edifices destroyed by the fire. The two principal 
 proposals embodied in the Bishop's paper were : (1) The 
 creation of a corporation or trust, to exercise functions 
 analogous to those exercised by the Peabody Trustees, and 
 some other public bodies and corporations in England. (2) 
 The building of a sea-wall, with wharves of a uniform design, 
 along the entire sea frontage of the city. 
 
 34. The value of the exports in 1881-2 amounted to 
 
66 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 1,549,058, against 1,178,594 in 1880-1, and 1,517,015 in 
 1875-6 ; giving an increase of 370,464 on 1880-1, 32,043 on 
 1875-6, and 205,354 on the average of the five years pre- 
 ceding 1881-2. 
 
 1883. The valuable suggestion of his lordship the Bishop 
 fell through, and the greater part of the burnt district of the 
 city remains in ruin, and will remain for many years, probably, 
 a sad memorial of the destructive conflagration. Several 
 mercantile places have been rebuilt, however, on plans afford- 
 ing greater protection from fire than usual. The year has 
 been noted for the continuous stream of emigration from the 
 island to Colon, on the isthmus of Darien or Panama, of 
 labouring men, seeking employment on the Canal works. 
 Many thousands have left, and their families suffer want in 
 consequence. From a single church on the north side of the 
 island, 300 communicants and 200 adherents have gone off, 
 leaving at least 1,000 members of their families to suffer. 
 Suffering has been intensified in some districts, notably the 
 large plains in the parish of St. Elizabeth, by drought during 
 several months, succeeded by swarms of caterpillars destroying 
 the tender plants after the fall of a few genial showers. 
 
 35. Agitation against Crown government still prevails, 
 especially as no answer has been received to a petition 
 addressed to Her Majesty the Queen in Council. It is 
 stated by the public press that the Imperial Government is 
 indifferent about events in Jamaica ; that the Government 
 here that is to say, the Privy Council, presided over by the 
 Governor, who is authorised to reject their counsel if he thinks 
 proper is virtually a dictatorship of one man, only relieved 
 from utter abhorrence by an impression that it is subject to 
 the control of the Colonial minister ; that this control is only 
 ideal, being based upon reports of the Governor's views from 
 his own interested standpoint, as in a recent report it was 
 stated, "The usual good order and peace of the community has 
 not been disturbed. There has been a considerable amount 
 of political agitation, but it has not reached the peasantry, to 
 whom political questions appear to be of no interest ; and the 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 67 
 
 intelligent among them manifest from time to time, in their 
 own way, their confidence in the justice and equity of the 
 administration of the Government." 
 
 36. The island press concludes, "It would seem to be 
 implied that because the mass of the peasantry are too ignorant 
 to be interested in political questions, and a few intelligent 
 ones among them manifest confidence, therefore the agitation 
 carried on by the intelligent classes and owners of property 
 is utterly unworthy of notice ; that because good order and 
 peace prevail, therefore no grievances exist ; and that political 
 agitation is not likely to be effective till it affects the ignorant 
 peasantry, and produces disorder ! But men of intelligence 
 canuot be expected to endure such contumely for ever. The 
 tumultuous ocean is never allayed, but wreck remains as a 
 witness of its power. In all civilised countries the possessors 
 of property and intelligence not the unthinking mass 
 control the government. And the age is past when those 
 who do so can attempt to oppress or trample on the rights 
 of the peasantry. It is only in righteously ministering to the 
 welfare of even the lowest, that the higher grades of society 
 can enjoy their privileges in peace and safety." 
 
 37. The estimates and the Appropriation Law for 1882-3 
 were passed by the Legislative Council, notwithstanding the 
 resignation of the unofficial members ; and since the 30th 
 September the expenditure of the Government has not been 
 duly sanctioned by the legislature ; and Her Majesty's 
 Government deemed it expedient not to take immediate steps 
 for correcting the irregularity that had arisen. Sir Anthony 
 Musgrave left the colony, and the administration of the 
 Government was committed to Major-General Gamble, C.B., 
 commanding the troops in the West Indies. 
 
 38. December 2,1st. Arrival of Sir Henry Wylie Norman, 
 who assumed the government of the colony ; and shortly after 
 announced that the petition from Jamaica had been very 
 graciously received by the Queen, and that Her Majesty's 
 Government are prepared to recommend a change in the 
 deserved direction. Lord Derby " admits that the existing 
 
68 HISTOKY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 legislature could not have been intended, and ought not now 
 to be regarded, as a permanent institution, and fully sym- 
 pathises with those who desire that the people of the island 
 should take an effective part, through their elected represen- 
 tatives, in managing its affairs. That the advance of education 
 and the improved position of the negro population have no 
 doubt, since 1866, largely increased the number of persons 
 who would now possess, and could intelligently exercise, such 
 a franchise as that under which the members of Assembly 
 were formerly elected. But Her Majesty's Government 
 cannot find any sufficient ground for believing that the sudden 
 and complete transfer of control over public affairs to a council 
 containing a large majority of unofficial members, most of 
 them being elective, would secure the various interests which 
 have to be regarded. A moderate step in advance will be 
 preferable ; and it will be possible, without any great change 
 in the outlines of the constitution, to admit the people, through 
 their representatives, to a material share in the decision of 
 those questions which most directly concern them, and more 
 particularly in the control of finance and public expenditure. 
 
 " It is proposed, then, that the Council shall contain the 
 same number of members as at present, with the same pro- 
 portion of official and unofficial members, but that the 
 unofficial members shall be elected, and not nominated ; and, 
 in order that the voice thus given to the representatives of the 
 people may be accompanied by a substantial power over 
 finance, the Governor will be guided by the following instruc- 
 tions, namely, that in questions involving the imposition of 
 new taxes, or the appropriation of public money for any other 
 purpose than the payment of salaries already assigned to 
 persons now employed on the fixed establishment of the 
 colony, the vote of the official members shall, as a general rule, 
 not be recorded against that of the unofficial members, if not 
 less than six of the latter are present and agreed. 
 
 " It will be observed that this instruction is limited in its 
 application to financial questions, the object being to give to 
 the representatives of the people a similar power, in respect 
 
FROM 1866 TO 1883. 69 
 
 of taxation and expenditure, to that enjoyed under the con- 
 stitution of British Guiana by the Combined Court in that 
 colony. But I anticipate that there may be other questions 
 of local interest, for the decision of which there will be no 
 necessity for you to require the presence in the Council of the 
 whole number of official members. 
 
 " Each official member will also, of course, exercise his own 
 discretion as to the vote which he should give in any question 
 which you may have declared to be an open one. In Jamaica, 
 as in all other colonies and countries, the officers of the 
 Government having seats in the legislature, are necessarily 
 obliged, by the conditions of their employment, to support the 
 Government by their vote, unless expressly excused from 
 doing so ; but it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government 
 that the elective members of the Council shall feel that there 
 is no disposition unnecessarily to use the united official vote 
 against them ; and in the event I trust improbable of your 
 finding it necessary to do so in any case, you will report the 
 circumstances to me without delay, even although no protest 
 may have been made by the elective members 
 
 " I request you, therefore, to appoint a Royal Commission 
 as soon as possible after your arrival, to ascertain and report 
 what franchise or combination of franchises would constitute 
 a reasonably large body of electors, qualified by knowledge 
 and education to form an intelligent judgment on public 
 affairs, and so ensure the fair representation of all interests. 
 It is, of course, the object of Her Majesty's Government not 
 to place the selection of the representatives in the hands of a 
 large class of illiterate or ignorant voters, but as long as this 
 is avoided, to make the representation really popular. " . . . 
 
 His Excellency is further advised to " take a vote of credit, 
 authorising the Government to make payments for six months 
 from the 30th September last, at the rate fixed in the last 
 Appropriation Law, on account of all the services therein pro- 
 vided for, and to reserve the estimates for the remainder of 
 the year now current, for the consideration of the full Council." 
 
 Lord Derby adds " In considering the estimates for the 
 
70 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 second half of the financial year, the elected members of the 
 Council will, I am confident, be sensible of the importance of 
 securing efficiency, no less than economy, in the administration, 
 and will give their careful consideration to the recommend- 
 ations of the Royal Commission with respect to each depart- 
 ment ; and it will probably be necessary to make no other 
 stipulation with regard to the passing of the estimates, than 
 that the emoluments of no person now actually holding 
 an appointment under the Government shall be reduced with- 
 out the concurrence of the Government. On the occurrence 
 of a vacancy it will, of course, be for the Council to consider 
 what should be the future salary of the vacated office before 
 it is filled up; but it will be generally admitted that the 
 public officers and servants of the colony should be secured in 
 their places, and be able to feel that they are not dependent 
 upon the annual vote of a legislature differently constituted 
 from that under which they have acquired their present 
 positions." 
 
 This brings the History of Jamaica down to the close of 
 the calendar year one thousand eight hundred and eighty- 
 three, and leaves us with the promise of 
 
 " A NEW DEPARTURE ." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 
 
 1. From the time of the English conquest of Jamaica to the 
 Restoration of Charles II., the island was under military 
 jurisdiction. In February 1661, Colonel D'Oyley, who had 
 then the chief command, under a commission from the Lord 
 Protector, was confirmed in his office, and instructed " to take 
 unto him a Council of twelve persons, to be elected by the 
 people, to advise and assist him in the execution of his trust." 
 In the latter part of the same year, Lord Windsor, who suc- 
 ceeded Colonel D'Oyley, was directed, " with the advice of the 
 Council, to call Assemblies to make laws, and upon imminent 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 71 
 
 necessity to levy money ; such laws to be in force for two 
 years, and no longer, unless approved by the Crown." Lord 
 Windsor brought with him the King's proclamation, dated 
 Whitehall, the 14th December 1661, declaring "that all 
 children of natural-born subjects of England, to be born in 
 Jamaica, shall from their respective births be reputed to be 
 free denizens of England, and shall have the same privileges, 
 to all intents and purposes, as free-born subjects of England." 
 
 2; Lord Windsor was succeeded by Sir Thomas Modyford, 
 who was appointed Governor-in-Chief by a commission under 
 the Great Seal, which empowered him "either to constitute, by 
 his own authority, a Privy Council of twelve person?, or to 
 continue the old one, and to alter, change, or augment it as he 
 thought fit." He was also authorised, "with the advice of a 
 majority of the Council, to frame a method for establishing 
 General Assemblies, and from time to time to call such 
 Assemblies together, and with their consent to pass all 
 manner of laws, reserving to himself a negative voice ; also 
 upon imminent occasions to levy money." In July, 1664, Sir 
 Thomas Modyford issued a writ for the election of two 
 Assembly men for each parish ; which Assembly met in the 
 October following and passed a body of laws. These laws not 
 having been confirmed, would have expired at the end of two 
 years, but that they were continued in force until the end of 
 his administration by an order in council. Sir Thomas 
 Modyford was recalled, and Sir Thomas Lynch was appointed 
 Lieutenant-Governor. The laws passed by the Assembly 
 during the temporary administration of Sir Thomas Lynch 
 also remained unconfirmed. 
 
 3. On the 3rd December 1674, Lord Yaughan was ap- 
 pointed Governor, and authorised, " with the Council and 
 Assembly, to pass laws for the good government of the 
 island ; ;J but the laws thus passed, instead of being confirmed, 
 were referred to the Lords of the Committee for Trade and 
 Plantations, who recommended to the King "that, for the 
 future, no Legislative Assembly be called without Your 
 Majesty's special directions ; but that, upon emergencies, the 
 
72 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Governor do acquaint Your Majesty by letters with the 
 necessity of calling such an Assembly, and at the same time 
 do present unto Your Majesty a scheme of such acts as he 
 shall think fit and necessary, that Your Majesty may take the 
 same into consideration, and return them in the form wherein 
 Your Majesty shall think fit that they be enacted ; that the 
 Governor, upon the receipt of Your Majesty's commands, 
 shall then summou an Assembly, and propose the said laws 
 for their consent, so that the same method in legislative 
 matters be made use of in Jamaica as in Ireland, according to 
 the form prescribed by Poyning's Law ; and that, therefore, 
 the present style of enacting laws, 'by the Governor, Council, 
 and representatives of the Commons assembled/ be converted 
 into the style of ' be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent 
 Majesty, by and with the consent of the General Assembly.' " 
 
 4. The recommendation having been approved, a body of 
 laws was prepared by the committee, and the Earl of Carlisle 
 was appointed Governor of the island, with instructions to 
 " offer them to the Assembly for their consent." This having 
 been done, they were all rejected the Assembly giving their 
 reasons for doing so in an address to the Governor. The 
 main arguments therein urged were (independently of the 
 objection that the laws themselves contained many funda- 
 mental errors), " the inconvenience of such a system of legis- 
 lation when the distance of Jamaica from England was 
 considered ; that the nature of all colonies being changeable, 
 the laws consequently must be adapted to the interest of the 
 place, and must alter with it ; that the people would thereby 
 lose the satisfaction, which through their representatives they 
 had previously enjoyed, of a deliberative power in the making 
 of laws ; that the new form of government rendered the 
 Governor absolute ; and that by the former mode of enacting 
 laws the Royal Prerogative was better secured." 
 
 5. The whole question having been submitted to the Privy 
 Council in England, the King was recommended to adhere to 
 the previous decision, and to empower the Earl of Carlisle, 
 in case the Assembly again rejected the laws, to "govern 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 73 
 
 according to the laws of England, where the different nature 
 and constitution of the colony may permit ; and in other cases 
 to act with the advice of his Council, in such a manner as 
 should be necessary and proper for the good government of 
 the island, until His Majesty's further orders." In pursuance 
 of this report, the same laws as had been brought out in the 
 first instance by the Earl of Carlisle, and rejected, were again 
 presented to the Assembly, and again rejected. The opinion 
 of the law officers of the Crown was then taken on the 
 question whether Jamaica could be governed by the laws of 
 England, and the Attorney-General (Sir C. Wearge) decided 
 " that the people of Jamaica had no right to be governed by 
 the laws of England, but by such laws as are made there, and 
 established by His Majesty's authority," the Solicitor-General 
 (Sir Philip York) concurring. 
 
 6. About this time Colonel Long, the Chief -Justice of the 
 island, and late Speaker of the Assembly, arrived in England 
 as a state prisoner, to answer the charges of having struck 
 the King's name out of the revenue bill that had recently been 
 sent to the Council from the Assembly, and for having advised 
 and framed the last address of the Assembly, protesting 
 against the change of government. He was several times 
 heard before the King and Privy Council, and pointed out 
 with such force of argument the evil tendency of the measures 
 which had been pursued, that the English ministry reluct- 
 antly submitted. Thereupon a second commission was issued 
 to the Earl of Carlisle, dated the 3rd November 1680, in 
 which it was declared that u the Assembly, or the major part 
 of them, shall have power, with the advice and consent of the 
 Governor and Council, to make laws for the good of the island 
 and its inhabitants, not repugnant to the laws of England, 
 provided that all laws so to be made shall be transmitted to 
 the King for approval or rejection, and any so disapproved to 
 be void." 
 
 7. In the following year an Act was passed by the three 
 branches of the legislature thus constituted, declaring that 
 " in every Assembly hereafter to be called by His Majesty's 
 
74 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 writs, there shall be chosen three representatives for the parish 
 of St. Catherine, the like number for the parish of Port Eoyal, 
 and two for each of the respective parishes that now are, or 
 hereafter shall be, in the island." The Act 5 William and 
 Mary, chap. 3, sess. 1, enacted that " there shall be chosen 
 three representatives to serve in every Assembly for the town 
 and parish of Kingston." 
 
 8. This form of government received confirmation in the 
 commissions of successive governors, but few of the laws 
 passed in the colony obtained the assent of the Crown. The 
 recommendation of the Committee of Trade and Plantations 
 for the abrogation of the original constitution was ascribed to 
 the desire of the ministry of Charles II. to secure a perpetual 
 annuity to the Crown, which the House of Assembly had sys- 
 tematically refused ; and the continued non-confirmation of the 
 colonial statutes was attributed to the same cause. But 
 whatever might have been the reason of this prolonged con- 
 troversy, it was finally settled in 1728, when an agreement 
 was entered into by the ministry of George II. and the 
 Assembly, to settle on the Crown " an irrevocable revenue " 
 of 8,000 (subsequently increased to ,10,000) Old Jamaica 
 currency, equal to 6,000 per annum, on condition that the 
 body of their laws should receive the Royal assent ; and that 
 "all such laws and statutes of England as had been at any 
 time esteemed, introduced, used, accepted or received as laws 
 in this island, should be and continue laws of this His 
 Majesty's island of Jamaica for ever." The "perpetual 
 revenue " was principally for the support of the local govern- 
 ment, arid the maintenance of the forts. 
 
 9. From the date of this decision, the constitutional rights 
 of the Assembly remained undisturbed until the year 1839, 
 when the Imperial Parliament passed the West India Prisons 
 Act, by which they legislated for the internal regulations of 
 the prisons of Jamaica. 
 
 The House of Assembly resented this interference with their 
 legislative functions, by three times resolving to do no business 
 " until they were left to the free exercise of their inherent 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 75 
 
 rights as British subjects." Thereupon Governor Sir Lionel 
 Smith recommended, and the Government of Lord Melbourne 
 sanctioned, the introduction of a bill into the Imperial Parlia- 
 ment for the suspension of the political constitution of the 
 colony. 
 
 Mr. Labouchere, the Under-Secretary of State for the 
 Colonies, in presenting the measure, stated " that, on a general 
 review of the whole case, Her Majesty's Government were of 
 opinion that it would be advisable to suspend the constitution 
 of Jamaica for a limited number of years, and to provide that 
 during that interval the legislative functions should not be 
 exercised by a Governor, a Council, and a House of Assembly, 
 but should reside in the Governor and Council alone." 
 
 By the party that owned Sir Eobert Peel as its leader this 
 measure was vigorously opposed. On the second reading of 
 the bill it was thrown out by a majority, swollen by some 
 seceders from the Ministerial ranks. On this Lord Melbourne 
 resigned. Invited to form a ministry, Sir Robert Peel 
 attempted the task, but failed, under the pressure of the Bed- 
 Chamber difficulty ; the Whigs thereupon returned to office. 
 
 10. The Jamaica bill was then carried through the House of 
 Commons, but it was afterwards amended by the Lords ; and 
 the result of these long protracted discussions was an Act that 
 declared that, from and after the expiration of two calendar 
 months from the time of the Assembly being convened for 
 the despatch of business, the Governor in council should have 
 power to revive and continue in force, or to re-enact, any of 
 the expired laws " which should not have been before then 
 revived or continued in force, or re-enacted by the Governor, 
 Council, and Assembly of the island." The Act was laid 
 before the Assembly, and Sir Charles Metcalfe, the newly- 
 appointed Governor, having at the same time delivered a 
 conciliatory speech, they passed a series of resolutions declaring 
 that "all they sought was the continued enjoyment of those 
 rights and privileges that were confirmed in 1661, and which 
 were no less dear to them than to their fellow-subjects in the 
 mother country," and then receded from their previous 
 determination. 
 
76 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 11. The work of legislation was then resumed, and it 
 continued without interruption until the 20th May 1853, 
 when the Assembly passed the following resolution : " That 
 in consequence of the rejection of the He venue Bills by the 
 second branch of the Legislature during the last session, and 
 the recklessness and utter disregard of the interests of the 
 colony thereby displayed, and this House having failed in 
 their endeavours made at the opening of the present session to 
 obtain any assurance that the honorable Board of Council will 
 make any concession, however reasonable, the House feels that 
 it cannot with any confidence continue to originate legislative 
 measures for the benefit of its constituents ; and, in self-respect 
 and vindication of the rights of the people, it declines to do 
 any business with the honorable Board of Council." The 
 House then adjourned, and another " dead-lock " in legislation 
 ensued. The Imperial Government approved generally of 
 the course pursued by the Council (in which they were sup- 
 ported by the Governor), but availed themselves of the expira- 
 tion of Sir Charles Grey's term of office to appoint a successor, 
 who would be independent of the prejudices arising out of 
 the retrenchment struggles. 
 
 12. Sir Henry Barkly was accordingly commissioned as 
 Governor, and met the Legislature for the first time in October 
 1853. After announcing the willingness of the British Govern- 
 ment to grant a loan for the purpose of compensating such 
 office-holders as might, in a general retrenchment scheme, lose 
 their appointments, or sustain a diminution of income, Sir 
 Henry Barkly called on the Legislature to introduce "such 
 political reforms as the experience of the mother country had 
 demonstrated to be most conducive to efficient and economical 
 government, and best calculated to avert the recurrence of 
 ruinous struggles between the various powers of the State." 
 The result was the passing of the Act for the better govern- 
 ment of the island (17 Vic., chap. 29), by which the Governor 
 for the time being was authorised to appoint an Executive 
 Committee (who should be members of the Legislature) for 
 the purpose of assisting him in the general administration of 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 77 
 
 the affairs of the island, and acting as official organs of 
 communication between him and the other branches of the 
 Legislature. 
 
 13. The Act also prohibited the raising or expending of 
 any money, except and until the same was recommended by 
 the Executive. The old Legislative Council (which consisted 
 almost exclusively of officials) was by the same enactment 
 abolished, and a new council, consisting of 17 members, of 
 whom five only were to be holders of office, was created. 
 This new Legislative Council was invested with "the like 
 political powers and authorities as the House of Lords, of 
 initiating or originating any legislative measures not involving 
 the imposition of taxes, or the appropriation of public money." 
 [The old Board of Council did not possess this power.] The 
 qualification of an unofficial member of the Legislative Council 
 was the possession of a freehold estate in the island, producing 
 a clear annual income to him of 300, or the payment of 
 direct taxes to the extent of 30 on a freehold held by him 
 in the island. 
 
 14. The House of Assembly was continued as " heretofore," 
 the number of representatives being 47. No person was 
 eligible to be elected a member of Assembly unless he was 
 a freeholder, and possessed, besides, one of the following 
 qualifications : 
 
 1. A clear annual income, after payment of all just debts, 
 
 of ^150 arising from lands. 
 
 2. A clear annual income as aforesaid, arising partly from 
 
 income, the produce of any freehold office, or of any 
 business, after deducting all charges and expenses, 
 of ^200. 
 
 3. A clear annual income as aforesaid, arising from freehold 
 
 office, or any business, after deducting all charges of 
 such office or business, of ^300. 
 
 4. The payment annually of direct taxes or of export taxes, 
 
 or any one or more of them, to the extent of ,10 or 
 upwards. 
 
78 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 The qualifications of the electors were : 
 
 1. A freehold of the clear annual value of ,6 or upwards. 
 
 2. The receipt of rent payable on lands of the annual value 
 
 of 20. 
 
 3. The occupation of a house, as tenant, of the annual value 
 
 of 20. 
 
 4. The receipt of an annual salary of not less than 50. 
 
 5. The payment of direct taxes amounting to 20s. or up- 
 
 wards. 
 
 6. The possession of invested money to the extent of not 
 
 less than ^100. 
 
 15. In 1863 the population of the electoral districts was 
 441,264 ; the number of registered electors, 1,798 ; the num- 
 ber that voted 1,482. These figures show that there was one 
 registered elector to every 245 persons in the island in the 
 year 1863 ; and that one person out of every 297 voted at the 
 general election held in that year. In 1865, after the sup- 
 pression of the disturbance in St. Thomas-in-the-East, Gover- 
 nor Eyre urged on the legislative the unsuitability of the 
 then existing form of government to meet the circumstances 
 of the community, and the necessity of making some sweeping 
 change by which a strong government might be created. 
 The Legislative Council, in their reply, assured his Excellency 
 that he " might confidently rely upon their giving their best 
 consideration to any measure tending to establish that strong 
 government, so necessary for the well-being of this com- 
 munity ; " and the Assembly expressed their " full conviction 
 that nothing but the existence of a strong government would 
 prevent this island lapsing into the condition of a second 
 Haiti." These assurances were followed by the passing of 
 the 29th Vic., cap. 11, declaring u that from and after the 
 coming into operation of this Act, the present Legislative 
 Council and House of Assembly, and all and every the 
 functions and privileges of these two bodies, respectively, shall 
 cease and determine absolutely." Another Act was also 
 passed in the same session, declaring that "it shall be lawful 
 for Her Majesty the Queen to create and constitute a govern- 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 79 
 
 ment for this island, in such form and with such powers as to 
 Her Majesty might best seem fitting, and from time to time 
 to alter or amend such government." Effect was given to 
 these Acts of the Colonial Legislature by an Act of the 
 Imperial Parliament, 29 Vic., cap. 12, entitled "An Act to 
 make provision for the government of Jamaica," which 
 enacted that, "in construing the secondly recited Act, the 
 term government should be held to include legislature, and that 
 the powers exercisable by Her Majesty under the two Acts 
 should be exercisable by Her Majesty in council. 
 
 16. In pursuance of these enactments, a single chamber was 
 established, under the designation of "the Legislative Council 
 of Jamaica," by an order in council dated the llth June 1866. 
 The Council thus created was to consist of "such officers and 
 such persons" as Her Majesty might think fit to appoint, to be 
 respectively official and unofficial members. The senior Mili- 
 tary Officer for the time being in command of Her Majesty's 
 regular troops within the island, and the five persons for the 
 time being exercising the respective offices of Colonial Sec- 
 retary, of Attorney-General, of Financial Secretary, of Director 
 of Eoads, and of Collector of Customs, were declared to be 
 official members of the Council virtute officii. By a subsequent 
 order in council, dated the llth November 1868, so much of 
 the above order as declared that the Financial Secretary, the 
 Director of Roads, and the Collector of Customs should be 
 official members of the Board, was revoked, and Her Majesty 
 was empowered, from time to time, "to appoint such officers 
 or persons as she may think fit to be official members of the 
 Council." 
 
 17. The powers of the Legislative Council are defined in the 
 instructions to the Governor for the time being. Any member 
 may propose questions for debate, "excepting only that no 
 law shall be enacted, nor any vote or resolution passed, nor 
 any question admitted to debate, where the object of such 
 law, vote, resolution or question may be to dispose of or 
 charge any part of the revenue, unless such law, vote, re- 
 solution, or question shall have been first proposed by the 
 
80 HISTOKY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Governor, or the proposal of the same shall have been ex- 
 pressly allowed or directed by him." Further : the Governor 
 is not to assent to any bill of any of the classes hereinafter 
 specified, unless such bill shall contain a suspension clause, 
 "or unless the Governor shall have satisfied himself that an 
 urgent necessity exists, requiring that such bill be brought 
 into immediate operation, in which case he is authorised to 
 assent to such bill, unless the same shall be repugnant to the 
 law of England, or inconsistent with any obligations imposed 
 upon Her Majesty by treaty" : 
 
 1. Any bill for the divorce of persons joined together in 
 
 holy matrimony. 
 
 2. Any bill whereby any grant of land, or money, or other 
 
 donation, or gratuity, may be made to himself. 
 
 3. Any bill whereby any increase or diminution may be 
 
 made in the number, salary, or allowances of the 
 public officers. 
 
 4. Any bill whereby any paper or other currency may be 
 
 made a legal tender, except the coin of the realm, or 
 other gold or silver coin. 
 
 5. Any bill establishing any banking association, or amend- 
 
 ing or altering the constitution, powers, or privileges 
 of any banking association. 
 
 6. Any bill imposing differential duties. 
 
 7. Any bill, the provisions of which shall appear inconsistent 
 
 with obligations imposed upon Her Majesty by 
 treaty. 
 
 8. Any bill interfering with the discipline or control of 
 
 Her Majesty's forces in the island by land and sea. 
 
 9. Any bill of an extraordinary nature and importance, 
 
 whereby the Queen's prerogative, or the rights or 
 property of her subjects not residing in the island, 
 or the trade and shipping of the United Kingdom 
 and its dependencies, may be prejudiced. 
 
 10. Any bill whereby persons riot of European birth or 
 
 descent may be subjected or made liable to any dis- 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 81 
 
 abilities or restrictions to which persons of European 
 
 birth or descent are not also subjected or made liable. 
 11. Any bill containing provisions to which Her Majesty's 
 
 assent has been once refused, or which have been 
 
 disallowed by Her Majesty. 
 
 The Governor is President of the new Legislative Council, 
 and five members constitute a quorum for the despatch of 
 business. The laws passed are styled "Laws enacted by the 
 Governor and Legislative Council of the Island of Jamaica." 
 18. There is also a Privy Council, consisting of the Lieu- 
 ten ant-Governor, the senior Military Officer in the island, the 
 Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, and such other 
 persons, not to exceed eight in number, as may be named by 
 the Queen, or provisionally appointed by the Governor, subject 
 to the approval of Her Majesty. "The Governor is to consult 
 in all cases with the Privy Councillors, excepting only when 
 the matter to be decided would in his judgment sustain 
 material prejudice by consultation, or to be too unimportant 
 to require their advice." " The Governor is authorised to act 
 in opposition to the advice and decision of the Privy Council, 
 if in any case it shall appear right to do so, and to report to 
 the Secretary of State for the Colonies the grounds and reasons 
 of his opposition ; and any member may record on the minutes 
 the nature of the advice or opinion offered and rejected." 
 
 Previous to the passing of the ] 7th Vic., cap. 29, the Privy 
 Council had at its disposal all the moneys arising from the quit 
 rents of the colony. In 1853 the quit rents were declared to 
 be part of the general revenue, and a thousand pounds per 
 annum was appropriated to the Governor and Privy Council 
 for extraordinary and unforeseen expenses. A similar sum is 
 still voted to the Governor and Privy Council in the annual 
 estimates for the like purpose. 
 
 19. On the introduction of Crown Government into Jamaica, 
 and the consequent abolition of the political franchise, it 
 became necessary to provide for the discharge of the duties 
 hitherto performed by the elected boards and corporations. 
 Law 8 of 1866 was therefore passed by the Legislative Council, 
 
82 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 and assented to by the Queen, as a part of the new constitutional 
 arrangements of the colony. By this law the Governor is 
 authorised annually to appoint Municipal Boards and Road 
 Boards, to take the place of the elected vestries and the old 
 commissioners of highways and bridges ; and also to appoint 
 churchwardens instead of the elected churchwardens. But 
 under Law 30 of 1881, the Governor may cease to appoint 
 churchwardens for any parish in which all the churches of 
 the communion of the Church of England have become 
 vested in the Incorporated Lay Body, created by Law 30 of 
 1870 for the disestablishment of the Church of England in 
 Jamaica. 
 
 THE ESTIMATES of the parochial expenditure are prepared 
 by the Municipal Boards, under the sanction of the Governor. 
 The estimates of public expenditure are prepared by the 
 Colonial Secretary, under the instructions of the Governor. 
 These are annually presented to the Legislative Council in the 
 form of a minute from the Governor. When considered, they 
 are incorporated in an Appropriation Law, the schedule of 
 which becomes the civil list of the year. 
 
 THE REVENUE. The principal heads of general revenue 
 are import duties, excise, and stamps. Taxes on houses, wheels, 
 and horsekind are imposed for parochial purposes. All these 
 rates and taxes are collected by a Collector-General, and a 
 staff of collectors and assistant collectors of customs, excise 
 and internal revenue. The collections are received and 
 disbursed by a Public Treasurer, and the accounts are audited 
 by an Auditor-General. All the revenue officers are under 
 bond for the faithful and honest discharge of their duties. 
 The revenue received for public or general purposes during 
 the year ending 30th September 1882, amounted to 466,696 ; 
 and for local or parochial purposes to 90,440 ; total, 557,136. " 
 The expenditure during the same period was : for general 
 purposes, 451,078 ; for local purposes, 82,631 ; total, 
 533,709. The rate of taxation was 14s. 8d. per head of the 
 population for general purposes, and 3s. per head for local 
 
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION. 83 
 
 purposes; total, 17s. 8d. per head. The number of persons 
 who paid direct taxes during the financial year 1882 was as 
 follows : 
 
 Under 1 72,259 
 
 Under 2 8,286 
 
 From 2 and upwards 6,403 
 
 Total 86,948 
 
 THE JUDICIAL ESTABLISHMENT consists of a Supreme Court 
 of Judicature, an Admiralty Court, District Courts, and 
 Courts of Petty Sessions. The Supreme Court has incorporated 
 with it the High Court of Chancery, the Incumbered Estates 
 Court, the Court of Ordinary, the Court of Divorce and 
 Matrimonial Causes, the Chief Court of Bankruptcy, and the 
 Circuit Courts. The several divisions of the Supreme Court, 
 except the Circuit Courts, sit in Kingston, at times appointed 
 by the judges. For the purposes of the sitting of the Circuit 
 Courts the island is divided into parochial districts. There 
 is a Chief-Justice and two Assistant Judges, who divide the 
 duties of the Supreme Court by arrangements among them- 
 selves. 
 
 The Court of Admiralty has an organisation of its own. It 
 is a branch of the Admiralty Court of England. The matters 
 in respect to which this court exercises jurisdiction particu- 
 larly, relate to seamen, pilotage, salvage, damages by ships, &c. 
 It sits whenever there is business to be disposed of. For the 
 purposes of the District Courts the island is divided into six 
 districts, consisting of adjacent localities. There are five 
 District Court Judges, the Junior Assistant Judge of the 
 Supreme Court presiding in the Civil Division of the City of 
 Kingston District Court. A District Court Judge presides 
 in each of the other District Courts. Courts of Petty Sessions 
 are held in the several parishes, and are presided over by 
 stipendiary or local magistrates. The Attorney- General and 
 his two assistants act as public prosecutors. Barristers, 
 advocates, and solicitors practise in the several courts of the 
 
84 HISTORY OF JAMAICA. 
 
 island. The Police Force consists of 21 inspectors and sub- 
 inspectors, and 673 sub-officers and constables ; 19 water 
 policemen, and 1,070 rural policemen ; they are under the 
 command of an Inspector-General of Police. There is a 
 General Penitentiary, two gaols, and nine other prisons in 
 different parts of the island. A Government Reformatory 
 for boys is maintained at Stony Hill, and one for girls at 
 Admiral's Penn, in St. Andrew. 
 
 TRADE. 
 
 The value of the merchandise and other articles imported 
 during the financial year 1882 stood thus : 
 
 From the United Kingdom 726,413 
 
 From the Dominion of Canada ... 147,723 
 
 From the United States 403,207 
 
 From other countries 44,619 
 
 Total value 1,321,962 
 
 The following represents the value of the necessaries im- 
 ported, and included above : 
 
 Food-stuffs 484,554 
 
 Clothing 400,641 
 
 Building materials 58,297 
 
 Hardware 64,478 
 
 Machinery and tools 41,449 
 
 Coals and coke .. 29,588 
 
 Books and other printed matter ... 6,618 
 
 Total 1,095,675 
 
 The export trade of the island stood thus in 1882 : 
 
 To the United Kingdom 968,324 
 
 To the Dominion of Canada 199,787 
 
 To the United States 275,704 
 
 To other countries 105,243 
 
 Total 1,549,058 
 
TRADE. 85 
 
 The quantity and the value of the produce exported stood 
 thus : 
 
 Quantity. Value. 
 Sugar ... 38,392 hhds. ... 614,283 
 
 Rum ... 22,742 phns. ... 295,645 
 
 Coffee ... 66,238 cwts. ... 133,535 
 
 Pimento ... 76,022 cwts. ... 112,817 
 
 Dyewoods ... 34,532 tons ... 103,034 
 
 Fruit ... ... 124,269 
 
 Tobacco, mclud-) ubs 
 
 ing cigars ) 
 
 Minor products ... 63,437 
 
 Cattle ... 497 head ... 4,266 
 
 Horsekind 399 head ... 6,273 
 
 Miscellaneous 77,141 
 
 The shipping employed in the export business of the island 
 during the year 1882 was as follows : 
 
 dumber. Tons. Crew. 
 
 Steam vessels 282 258,648 11,497 
 
 Sailing vessels 300 61,386 2,370 
 
 Total ... 582 320,034- 13,867 
 
 The above tonnage, &c., includes the steam vessels of 
 thirteen lines of steamers that trade with the island. By 
 nearly all these steamships mails are made up for all parts 
 of the world. In addition to this mode of external commu- 
 nication is the ocean cable of the West Indian and Panama 
 Telegraph Company. 
 
DESCRIPTION 
 
 OF 
 
 JAMAICA 
 
DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA, 
 
 CHAPTEK VII. LOCATION, AND NAMES OF 
 PAKISHES. 
 
 JAMAICA, an island in the Caribbean Sea, is situated between 
 17 43' and 18 32' N. lat., and 76 II 7 and 78 20' 50" W. long., 
 about 5,000 miles south-west of England : 100 miles west of 
 Hay ti or St. Domingo, and 90 miles south of Cuba ; 445 miles 
 north of Carthagena ; 540 miles from Colon ; and 310 from 
 Cape Gracios Dios, in the Mosquito Territory. 
 
 From the fact of its being in the direct track between 
 Europe, the United States, and the Isthmus of Panama, 
 Jamaica must possess advantages and afford facilities for 
 trade and commerce between these points; and when the 
 Panama Canal is completed, it must be largely benefited by 
 the increased traffic that will pass in this direction. 
 
 The extreme length of Jamaica is 144 miles; its greatest 
 width is 49 miles ; its least width (from Kingston to Annotto 
 Bay) is 21 J miles. 
 
 Prior to 1867 Jamaica contained twenty-two parishes, of 
 very unequal extent ; and it was considered that reduction in 
 number, and equalisation in extent and population, would 
 tend to a better and more economical administration in the 
 departments of justice, police, and revenue. 
 
 The parishes were then reduced to fourteen, as follows : 
 
 
 THE COUNTY OF SURREY. 
 
 1. KINGSTON: including the city and parish of Kingston, 
 and the following portions of the parish of St. Andrew, namely, 
 Smith's Village, Hannah's Town, Fletcher's Town, the land on 
 each side of the Slipe Pen road to Torrington Bridge, between 
 
90 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 the Admiral's Pen gully on the one side and the racecourse 
 on the other; the racecourse, Allman's Town, and the lands 
 south of the south gate of the Camp, and to the westward of 
 the road leading from thence to Lisle's Chapel, together with 
 the town of Port Koyal, and the tract called the Palisades, off 
 the former parish of Port Royal. 
 
 2. ST. ANDREW : consisting of the remaining portions of 
 Saint Andrew and Port Royal. Head station, Half-way Tree. 
 
 3. ST. THOMAS : consisting of the parishes of St. David and of 
 St. Thomas-in-the-East, exclusive of the Manchioneal district. 
 Morant Bay, the parish town. 
 
 4. PORTLAND: including St. George's and the Manchioneal 
 district, from the Hector's River, and a line drawn between its 
 source and the nearest source of the Rio Grande. Port 
 Antonio, the parish town. 
 
 COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX. 
 
 1. ST. CATHERINE: to include St. Dorothy, St. John, and 
 St. Thomas-in-the-Yale. St. Jago de la Vega (Spanish 
 Town), the parish town. 
 
 2. ST. MARY: to include Metcalfe. Port Maria, the parish 
 town. 
 
 3. CLARENDON : to include Yere. Chapelton, the parish 
 town. 
 
 4. ST. ANN : St. Ann's Bay, the parish town. 
 
 5. MANCHESTER : Mandeville, the parish town. 
 
 COUNTY OF CORNWALL. 
 
 1. TRELAWNY : Falmouth, the parish town. 
 
 2. ST. JAMES : Montego Bay, the parish town. 
 
 3. HANOVER : Lticea, the parish town. 
 
 4. WESTMORELAND : Savanna-la-Mar, the parish town. 
 
 5. ST. ELIZABETH : Black River, the parish town. 
 
91 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. PHYSICAL FEATURES AND 
 GENERAL STRUCTURE. 
 
 The foundation or basis of the island is composed of 
 igneous 1 rocks, overlaying which are several distinct form- 
 ations. The coast formation is of white and yellow limestone ; 
 the interior consists chiefly of the metamorphosed 2 and trap- 
 pean 8 series, with carbonaceous shales* and conglomerate. 5 
 The only volcanic formation in the island is that at Lowlayton 
 and Retreat Estates, in the parish of Portland, a mile from 
 the sea ; there is, however, no denned crater, and the volcanic 
 materials are the only evidences remaining. From the sea 
 level on all sides of Jamaica, a series of ridges gradually ascend 
 towards the central range, from which they radiate, dividing 
 the rivers and culminating in peaks the highest elevation 
 being 7,360 feet. 
 
 The mean daily heat at the sea level may be assumed at 80* ; 
 and as a sensible diminution of temperature is experienced 
 for every 100 feet of elevation, it is easy to realise that great 
 variation of climate must be presented by the higher and 
 lower districts. The vapour ascending from the rivers, com- 
 bining with that from the surrounding sea, produces, in 
 the upper regions, clouds saturated with moisture, which, 
 discharging on the elevated ranges, induce the vegetation 
 characteristic of a colder climate. Still, it seems from re- 
 corded observations that the condensation of aqueous vapour 
 is less at the highest than at the lower levels. 
 
 It is only during the " rainy seasons/' which occur generally 
 in May and October, that a daily accumulation of vapour is 
 observed to overcome the attractive influence of the Blue 
 Mountains, thus filling the air with cumulus and nimbus 
 clouds, which disperse over the whole island, and produce a 
 general condensation which cools the atmosphere, equalising 
 
 1 Pertaining to fire. 2 Changed. 3 In columns or strata. 
 
 4 Slatey coal-like clay. 6 Lumpy, mixed, a pudding stone. 
 
 O 
 
92 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 its temperature with that of the mountain summits, and thus 
 moderating the action of the cooler land-wind of night, and 
 sea-breeze by day. 
 
 Should, however, the condensation be derived from the 
 accumulated masses of vapour collected by the solar influence 
 in these latitudes, and brought by the trade-winds from the 
 Atlantic Ocean the rain is then precipitated with such force, 
 and in such quantity, effecting the removal of the soil 
 (especially on the steep surface of the hills) to such an extent, 
 as to embarrass the processes of cultivation, and produce 
 considerable local geological changes also. The prevalence 
 of these heavy tropical rains for several days is attended with 
 serious consequences ; the rivers are swollen in some places 
 to the depth of 100 feet or more above the ordinary level, 
 where they are enclosed by high banks and escarpments ; and 
 the destructive force of the pressure exerted becomes most 
 disastrous rocks and trees are removed, hills reduced in size, 
 plains formed, and the outline of the surface completely 
 changed, even in the course of a few years only. As evi- 
 dencing the violence of these tropical floods, and the force they 
 exert, it may be mentioned, that it is stated on very respect- 
 able and reliable authority, that a block of limestone which 
 had been precipitated into the Plantain Garden river, exposing 
 30 cubic feet of surface, was removed during a heavy flood in 
 1858, so that not a vestige of its existence remained ; the great 
 attrition to which it was subjected having caused its total 
 disintegration. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 
 
 1. Soils. 
 
 The soils of Jamaica are derived from the disintegration of 
 the strata of the formations, and present certain leading 
 variations or kinds. In the more elevated districts the higher 
 portions of the mountains are frequently covered with a red 
 argillaceous soil (clay), derived from the decomposition of 
 
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 93 
 
 felspathic 1 rocks, especially where the metamorphosed or 
 altered rocks prevail. These clayey soils are extremely 
 tenacious, and on the acclivities of the hills, where the climate 
 is adapted for the cultivation of European vegetables, coffee 
 is very extensively grown, especially at the elevation of 4,000 
 feet. Above this cinchona is profitably cultivated. 
 
 The soil overlying the black shales at the base of the 
 conglomerates, if situated at considerable elevation, may also 
 be employed for coffee cultivation, but it is more usually 
 devoted to ground provisions, such as yams, cocoa, cassava, &c. ; 
 and this land seems to be preferred by the small cultivators, a 
 circumstance which is rather due to the friable nature and 
 easy working of the soil than to any special fertility, since 
 other descriptions of surface are known to produce equally 
 good, if not superior, results. From the conglomerate group 
 the resulting soils are of a decidedly rich and fertile descrip- 
 tion, especially in the moist regions of the elevated table-lands 
 of Clarendon, Cave Valley ; the black grounds of Trelawny ; 
 around Maroon Town, in St. James ; and Mexico, in St. 
 Elizabeth, &c. This tendency to fertility is augmented where 
 sediment from the calcareous districts (lime formations) is 
 deposited and mixed with the local soils ; thus the product per 
 acre at Cave Valley is double that of the marly alluvium of 
 Drax Hall, near the coast. 
 
 The yellow limestone soils, on the contrary, are distinguished 
 by sterility a character which also appertains to them in other 
 islands and offer a great contrast to the white limestone 
 districts, which are abundantly clothed with trees. The 
 vegetation affords a ready means of defining, in many cases, 
 the limits of these two formations. The argillaceous 2 soil, or 
 red earth occupying depressions in the limestone, largely 
 associated with oxides of iron, is widely disseminated over the 
 formation, and occupies many extensive plains. The deficiency 
 of calcareous, 3 arenaceous,* and vegetable matter seems to 
 
 1 Compound of silica, alumina, and potash. 
 2 Aluminium clay. 3 Lime. 4 Flinty. 
 
94 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 influence the unproductive nature of the soil. Some of the 
 alluvial soil contains the oxide of iron in modular concretions ; 
 these are termed iron-shot soils, and are amongst the poorest 
 known. 
 
 2. Road Material. 
 
 On account of the great extent and general accessibility of 
 the white limestone, it has been found most convenient to 
 employ this stone in the construction and repair of the roads ; 
 but, being usually soft and incoherent, it does not form a 
 permanent material. A better result is, however, obtained 
 when harder rocks, such as those of the altered strata, or of 
 the conglomerate series, are associated with the limestone. 
 This has usually been applied in the form of gravel collected 
 from the rivers, which, binding in with the calcareous frag- 
 ments, forms a hard and durable surface when subjected to the 
 pressure of the constant traffic. No rock excepting the lime- 
 stone has hitherto been quarried for this purpose, but it is 
 probable the compact and felstone porphyries might with great 
 advantage be worked and applied as road materials. 
 
 3. Building Stone. 
 
 Few countries are better supplied with this material, which 
 varies in degree from the finest marbles to coarse but enduring 
 sandstone. The former are abundant along the southern base 
 of the central chain of the eastern mountains, and form a zone 
 extending from Roaring River (Plantain Garden district) to 
 the heads of Green River (St. David's). 
 
 Sandstones possessing the property of freestones i.e. work- 
 able under the chisel into square blocks for building purposes 
 are found in abundance near Serge Island, St. Thomas ; near 
 Mooretown and Port Antonio, Portland ; and Smithville, 
 Clarendon. But perhaps the most notable example occurs at 
 Kellits in the latter parish, where the sugar works, hospital, 
 residence, &c., are all erected of elaborately finished and even 
 carved reddish-brown sandstone, composed of a fine grained 
 grit made up of porphyritic fragments, and belonging to the 
 conglomerite formation, which is finely developed. At Serge 
 
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 95 
 
 Island the quarries of sandstone are readily accessible, and 
 although the stone is rather a flaky like sandstone, still it 
 seems to wear well, and has been employed in the construction 
 of the residence, aqueduct, &c. The Portland chalkstone also 
 answers well for building material, though soft and easily cut. 
 The church at Port Antonio, the best specimen of architecture 
 in the island, is built of this stone. St. Paul's Church at 
 Siloah, in St. Elizabeth, has elaborate windows, a pulpit and 
 font, constructed of this stone. The best quality occurs near 
 the suspension bridge on the Yallahs, near Easington, in 
 St. Thomas. 
 
 4. Flag-stones. 
 
 Beds of this substance are inters Ratified with the freestone 
 at Serge Island, and constitute some of the thinner layers 
 varying from three inches to a foot in thickness. The sandy 
 beds of the dark carbonaceous shales also afford excellent 
 paving-stones. These have been specially noticed below 
 Windsor Forest (Yallahs) and on Morant river. A peculiar 
 description of flagstone also occurs, exhibiting in a natural 
 condition, perfect adaptation for practical uses, and it is sur- 
 prising to find such an admirable material for this purpose 
 unemployed. This stone is situated near the base of the 
 white limestone series, and occurs in beds varying from an 
 inch to three feet in thickness, and separated by thin argil- 
 laceous laminae: the rock may be easily worked and separated 
 by a common wooden wedge. The most prominent localities 
 are Lloyds in St. David's, about three miles from the sea, and 
 at Good Hope in Trelawny. At the latter place, slabs 7 
 and 8 feet long may be obtained in the greatest abundance, 
 limited only by the difficulties of labour and transport. 
 
 5. Marbles. 
 
 A great variety of this substance exists in Jamaica. 
 Specimens from upwards of forty different localities have 
 been collected. A beautifully striped kind (white or grey, 
 with brown or red) occurs extensively at Bath, St. Thomas ; 
 also at Garbrand Hall and Island Head ; a green variety at 
 
96 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Kadiior, Sherwood Forest, Green River, below Woburn Lawn, 
 and Newington, near Monklands. Fine black marbles are 
 found near Clydesdale, Chigoefoot Market, Tweedside, Mount 
 Moses, and in many other places. A red marble occurs near 
 Clifton Church, St. Andrew, and on Robin's River, a tributary 
 of the Rio Grande. But, as the most notable of all, we would 
 call attention to the green serpentine rocks largely prevailing 
 on the southern slope of the Blue Mountain district, extend- 
 ing upwards of five miles in length, commencing near Monk- 
 lands, traversing Arntully Gap, descending to Woburn Lawn, 
 then rising above the great landslip, and extending to the 
 north-west of Radnor. The colour varies from a dark blackish 
 green to a light pea-green, and scales of a mineral of dark 
 metallic lustre are disseminated in the matrix. Being sus- 
 ceptible of acquiring a magnificent polish, and also of being 
 cut or turned into any desirable shape, it may be made into 
 many articles of ornament or utility. 
 
 6. Porphyries. 
 
 Many varieties of this rock afford beautiful examples for 
 polishing and economical purposes: they are to be found 
 chiefly above Windsor Forest and Arntully, and on the banks 
 of the Rio Grande. The porphyries of Clarendon, though 
 occasionally affording samples adapted for ornamentation, do 
 not so generally present this character, on account of their 
 compact and less crystalline texture. 
 
 7. Granite. 
 
 Rocks of this description prevail to a great extent, but their 
 adaptation to economic purposes has not yet been accomplished, 
 which may be partly due to the supposition that granitic rocks 
 did not exist, but also to the absence of skill and enterprise 
 necessary to work materials of such hardness and difficulty. 
 There are many localities where a quality for ornamental or 
 constructive properties, equal to any known, might be produced, 
 but so long as the article can be imported more cheaply than 
 worked in the country, it is probable the native resources will 
 remain undisturbed. 
 
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 97 
 
 8. Ochres. 
 
 Beautiful red, pink, and yellow ochres occur on Hollis's 
 Savanna, Clarendon, and near Port Antonio, Portland. A 
 superior kaolin is also found in the former district, in veins, 
 and quite of a soapy texture. The ochres are very abundant, 
 and it is surprising that the inhabitants of the vicinity should 
 pay sixpence per pound for foreign material, instead of 
 utilising that which is deposited so extensively around them. 
 Kaolin abounds also at Eaymond Hall, below Strawberry 
 Hill, and between Lawrence's Tavern and Mount Charles. 
 
 9. Sand. 
 
 Pure quartzitic sands occur at Nonsuch, Portland ; near 
 Hermitage, Westmoreland ; and other parts of the island. 
 
 10. Clays. 
 
 A very superior greyish clay is obtained near Barker's Hall, 
 St. Thomas-in-the-Vale ; also at Kaymond Hall, St. Andrew 
 in the latter case due to the disintegration of a granitic rock ; 
 near Kingston, both east and west of the city, where a good 
 red clay is procured, and manufactured into articles of ordinary 
 pottery. Many other parts of the island afford clays of 
 common quality. 
 
 1 1 . Carbonaceous Shales. 
 
 It has been frequently supposed and asserted that lignites 
 occur in Jamaica, but the researches of the Geological Survey 
 have failed to establish the correctness of the statement. 
 Insignificant examples of carbonized vegetable remains have 
 been noticed, but this does not amount in any case to a 
 deposit of lignite, at most only constituting carbonaceous 
 shales, incapable of combustion. Their only application con- 
 sists in their employment as manure on sterile soils. 
 12. Water. 
 
 Nearly all the springs issue from the upper portion of a 
 blue clay which forms the base of the yellow limestone, or 
 divides that series from the underlying formation. The 
 
98 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 existence of the clay may be ascertained, in most localities, 
 from the circumstance of the lower beds of the yellow lime- 
 stone containing characteristic fossils of a light yellow or 
 ochreous colour, especially a large oyster with a very thick 
 shell. The existence, then, of these fossils indicates the presence 
 of the clay below, and as no water can penetrate the clay, a 
 boring or well sunk down to it would certainly supply water 
 copiously. 
 
 13. Mineral Species. 
 
 Travertine, Tufa, or Calc Sinter. Deposits of this nature 
 frequently occur, especially near the coasts. As this substance 
 is rather porous, it might be employed in the formation of 
 filters. 
 
 Calcspar, beautifully crystallised, is generally diffused in all 
 the calcareous districts. Sometimes the crystals are so highly 
 translucent as to exhibit the phenomena of double refraction, 
 and many masses of stalagmite, of dark-brown, yellow, or 
 reddish colours, are entirely composed of this mineral. 
 
 Gypsum, or hydrous sulphate of lime, crops out in the 
 vicinity of the limestone. The attempts to utilise this article 
 in the island seem to have been unsuccessful, on account of 
 unskilful treatment. Dr. Ure says it should not be heated 
 over 400 Fah. for the manufacture of plaster of Paris, whereas 
 there is reason to believe parties who have tried to employ it 
 in Jamaica have heated it so highly as to destroy its properties 
 for the above application. This substance is also susceptible 
 of being used as a manure. Sulphate of Baryta, Natrolite, 
 and Alabaster all occur in veins and strata in Jamaica. 
 
 Quartz. The coloured varieties of this mineral are widely 
 disseminated, but veins of pure white quartz are rare. One of 
 the most remarkable instances occurs at Arntully, where a 
 distinct vein or narrow dyke, about eight inches across, is 
 exposed for a distance of four h undred yards. Among other 
 varieties are amethyst, and on the Hollis' Savanna and the 
 Savannas of Vere, many specimens, distinguished by a variety 
 of colour, such as jaspers and agates, are derived from the 
 disintegration of the conglomerates, in which they were 
 
ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 99 
 
 included as pebbles on the destruction of the eruptive rocks. 
 A large jaspidean bed (quartzite or hornstone) also occurs 
 below the upper coffee-piece at Arntully, and veins of the same 
 are seen on the road to the mines of the Clarendon Mountains. 
 Hector's Kiver is a noted locality for jaspers, which are also 
 associated with white carnelian and quartz pebbles of very 
 large size, sometimes ten inches in diameter. Petrosilex, for 
 making cameos, is found in streams flowing into the Eio Pedro 
 in St. Andrew. 
 
 14. Metallic Minerals. 
 
 GoldwsiS found associated with some of the oxydized copper 
 ores of the Clarendon mines, as stated in the reports of assays 
 made in England. The surveyors "found it impossible to 
 prosecute any mineral or geological researches, as the workings 
 were long abandoned, and the vicinity completely grown over 
 by bush." The yield is said to have amounted to fifteen 
 ounces per ton a very large yield indeed and the correct- 
 ness of the assertion may perhaps be corroborated from the 
 traditions of the Indians, and of the Spaniards later on 
 having obtained gold here, and from their having named an 
 adjacent elevation " The Gold Mine." Copper, lead, iron, and 
 other metals exist, but all attempts at mining operations have 
 failed to be sufficiently remunerative. 
 
 The copper minerals at Job's Hill are principally grey ores, 
 and rich in metal. It is said about eighty tons of this mineral 
 were soon obtained, but the expectations of the company not 
 being realized after spending 20,000 (exclusive of the pur- 
 chase of the freehold), the enterprise was abandoned at the 
 end of six or seven mouths. 
 
 It is to be regretted that, in place of importing an expensive 
 staff, and incurring many unnecessary expenses, a portion of 
 this large sum was not devoted to careful and complete ex- 
 ploration, so as to determine thoroughly the mineral character 
 of the rock. In the opinion of experts, this deposit is not of 
 the permanent nature attaching to regular lodes; and if mining 
 operations are resumed, inexpensive preliminary explorations 
 should be first instituted, and prosecuted with great caution. 
 
100 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 About 13,000 is understood to have been expended on the 
 mining operations at Sue Eiver. In the utilisation of the 
 metallic minerals of Jamaica, many serious expenses must be 
 incurred; such as the importation of skilled labour ; the erect- 
 ing and maintaining complicated machinery, indispensable in 
 this branch of industry ; the transport of the minerals on in- 
 efficient roads from the interior to the coast ; and the freights 
 to those distant localities where the metal is smelted and pre- 
 pared for the arts. 
 
 Under these circumstances very rich mines only will be 
 remunerative, and such is the result of experience in Cuba, 
 Brazil, and other tropical countries where mining enterprise 
 has been successfully introduced. 
 
 CHAPTER X. MOUNTAIN EANGES. 
 
 The surface of the island is extremely mountainous, and 
 attains considerable altitudes, particularly in the eastern part, 
 where the central range is known as the Blue Mountains. 
 
 A great diversity of climate is therefore obtainable. From a 
 tropical temperature of 80 to 86 at the sea coast, the thermo- 
 meter falls to 45 and 50 on the top of the highest mountains, 
 and with a dryness of atmosphere that renders the climate of 
 the mountains of Jamaica particularly delightful, and suitable 
 to the most delicate constitutions. 
 
 The midland parts of the island are of course the highest. 
 Through the county of Surrey, and partly through Middlesex, 
 there runs the great central chain, which trends generally in an 
 east and west direction, the highest part of which is the Blue 
 Mountain Peak, attaining an elevation of 7,360 feet. 
 
 From this range subordinate ridges or spurs run north and 
 south; these are connected with other smaller ridges, which 
 branch off in various directions, until the whole surface of the 
 country is cut up into a series of ridges, with intervening 
 springs or gulleys. 
 
 Many of these subordinate ridges vie with the main ridge 
 in importance and elevation ; such, for instance, as the great 
 
MOUNTAIN, KANQE8. 101* 
 
 ridge starting from Catherine's Peak, above Newcastle, and 
 passing through the parish of St. Andrew in a south-easterly 
 direction, culminating at gre*at elevations at Newton and 
 Bellevue, and expending itself at Albion, in th6 parish of St. 
 Thomas. Also the ridge known as Queenborough Eidge, 
 starting from the Blue Mountain Peak, passing by Arntully, 
 Belle Clair, and Windsor Castle, where it is known as 
 Coward's Eidge, and extending to the sea at Belvidere and 
 Creighton Hall, to the north of which place it forms the 
 conspicuous mountain known as Yallah's Hill, 2,348 feet high. 
 
 On the northern side of the island three great ridges may 
 be mentioned : one extending from the Blue. Mountain Peak, 
 through the parish of Portland, dividing the waters of the 
 Eio Grande from those of the Swift Eiver, and expending 
 itself at St. Margaret's and Hope Bays; another starting 
 from Silver Hill, dividing the waters of the Buff Bay and 
 Spanish rivers ; and the other very high ridge extending from 
 Eox's Gap, at the boundary of St. Mary and Portland, north- 
 easterly, culminating in a conspicuous elevation called Hay 
 Cock Hill, 2,500 feet above the sea, and terminating on the 
 coast near Dover. 
 
 The John Crow Eange, which runs in a north-westerly and 
 south-easterly direction, in the parishes of Portland and St. 
 Thomas, divides the Eio Grande Valley from the eastern 
 coast of the island. This is more a plateau, of about 2,000 feet 
 elevation, than a mountain range. In its higher parts it is a 
 barren, waterless tract of limestone formation ; much of it 
 covered by the sharp rocks known as honey-combed rocks, over 
 which it is almost impossible to walk. The John Crow Hills 
 may be said to be an offshoot from the great central range, 
 which, from the depression known as the Cuna Cuna Gap, 
 north of the town of Bath, turns suddenly to the north, and 
 forms itself into this plateau. 
 
 The central range suffers a considerable depression at Stony 
 Hill, in the parish of St. Andrew, where the main road to the 
 north side crosses it at an elevation of 1,360 feet. Here the 
 range is divided into two ridges ; one, of limestone formation, 
 
'1C2 . DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 extending westerly through the district known as Mammee 
 Hill, reaches a conspicuous elevation at Highgate, in St. 
 Catherine, and extends itself at Bog Walk ; the other, which 
 is a continuation of the central dividing ridge, is of granitic 
 formation, and extends in a north-westerly direction. It 
 passes the district of Lawrence Tavern and Mount Charles, 
 where it commences to form the boundary line between the 
 parishes of St. Mary on the north and St. Catherine on the 
 south side ; continuing north-westerly it passes Pear Tree 
 Grove, and turns suddenly to the south-west at Windsor 
 Castle and Decoy ; and it then joins the limestone formation 
 at Guy's Hill and Middlesex township, continuing as a well- 
 defined range to Mount Diablo, where the main road crosses 
 it at an elevation of 1,800 feet. It continues on to Holly 
 Mount ; a little beyond which it unites with the St. John's 
 Range, which forms the eastern boundary of Luidas Valley. 
 
 From this point although these mountains continue as a 
 separate range they become irregular and broken, chiefly on 
 account of their limestone character ; and with this formation 
 they extend through the parish of St. Ann, expending them- 
 selves in the Cockpit Country to the east of the district called 
 the " Black Grounds," in the parish of Trelawny. To the 
 south of this locality, along the borders of Clarendon and 
 Manchester, the trappean series is again met with, and two 
 great inland rivers flow there. Running in an irregular north- 
 westerly line, almost parallel with the last range of mountains 
 described, is another limestone range, which may be said to 
 commence from the western bank of the Rio Minho, or Dry 
 River, above Lime Savanna, and forming first the range known 
 as Mocho Mountains ; it includes the Whitney Valley, and 
 joins the Manchester Mountain range at Cumberland. 
 
 Thence trending north-westerly, it passes through the north- 
 ern district of Manchester, and enters the parish of St. 
 Elizabeth at Hector's River Sink ; thence it continues on to 
 Accompong Town, and becomes lost in a peculiarly wild 
 formation of what is usually known as Cockpit Land. In this 
 quarter, and extending for a considerable distance into the 
 
MOUNTAIN RANGES. 103 
 
 parishes of Trelawny and St. James, the Cockpit Land bids 
 defiance to the traveller. This formation is of white limestone, 
 sharp, irregular, and jagged, with little earth, and formed into 
 a series of circular arenas, like inverted cones with extremely 
 irregular sides, but preserving the circular formation through- 
 out, and terminating in most instances with a sink hole at 
 the bottom. 
 
 These arenas are of all diameters, from half a chain to two 
 and three chains. The ridges or edges where these cones 
 unite are of course very irregular and sharp, presenting very 
 steep or vertical rocks of considerable height. Such a country 
 may be said to be inaccessible. 
 
 The May Day and Carpenter's Mountains pass through the 
 parish of Manchester in a diagonal direction. Commencing 
 at the Bound Hill in Vere, at the south-east extremity of 
 Manchester, they traverse the parish to its north-western 
 angle, where they join the main ridge near the Hector's River 
 Sink ; one offshoot forming the Nassau Mountains of St. 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 The Santa Cruz Mountains, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, 
 run parallel with the Manchester Mountains. They commence 
 at the sea, at the precipice called the "Lover's Leap," and 
 terminate near Lacovia, where the passage of the Black River 
 produces a break in the hills. These mountains, as well as 
 those of Manchester, are considered generally very salubrious. 
 
 Another range of mountains, a continuation of the same 
 line as the Santa Cruz Mountains, commences above Lacovia 
 to the north, and extends to Mulgrave, near the line of St. 
 James, and traverses the parish of St. James in a northerly 
 direction, terminating in the hills south of Montego Bay. 
 The last and most westerly range of mountains, extending 
 through Westmoreland and Hanover, commences about the 
 locality called "Middle Quarters," and extends northerly, with 
 some irregularities, to Chesterfield, at the head of the Great 
 River, which forms the boundary between St. James and 
 Westmoreland ; it then trends north-westerly to Chester 
 Castle and Knockalva, near the boundary of the parishes 
 
104 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 of Westmoreland and Hanover, and then westerly, culminating 
 in a conspicuous hill called " Dolphin Head," with an elevation 
 of 1,816 feet, and terminating in several small ridges towards 
 the west end of the island. 
 
 There is also a coast-line in Westmoreland called "The 
 Bluefields or Surinam range," commencing at Middle Quarters 
 in St. Elizabeth, and extending towards Savanna-la-Mar. 
 
 CHAPTER XL ELEVATIONS. 
 
 The following are a few of the elevations, above the sea, 
 of the principal mountains and passes through them, commenc- 
 ing from the eastern end of the island, most of which are 
 taken from S&wkintfs Geology of Jamaica : 
 
 Names. Elevation in feet. 
 
 John Crow Eange, average 2,100 
 
 CunaCunaPass 2,698 
 
 Blue Mountain, Western Peak 7,360 
 
 Portland Gap 5,549 
 
 Sir John's Peak (highest point of Cinchona 
 
 Plantation) 6,100 
 
 Belle Vue, Cinchona Plantation 5,017 
 
 ArntullyGap 2,754 
 
 HagleyGap 1,959 
 
 Morce's Gap 4,945 
 
 Content Gap 3,251 
 
 Newcastle Hospital 3,800 
 
 Flamstead ... 3,663 
 
 Belle Vue (Dr. Stephens') 3,784 
 
 Silver Hill Gap 3,513 
 
 Catherine's Peak 5,036 
 
 Cold Spring Gap 4,523 
 
 Hardware Gap 4,079 
 
 Fox's Gap 3,967 
 
 Stony Hill (where main road crosses it) ... 1,360 
 
 Guy's Hill 2,100 
 
RIVERS AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 105 
 
 Names. Elevation in feet. 
 
 Mount Diablo, highest point 2,300 
 
 where road crosses ... 1,800 
 
 Bull Head 2,885 
 
 Mandeville 2,131 
 
 Accompong Town ... 1,409 
 
 Dolphin Head 1,816 
 
 CHAPTEK XII. EIVEKS AND GENERAL 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 The numerous rivers aud springs which abound along the 
 coast in most parts of the island, to a considerable extent 
 justify the name of " The Land of Springs," although there are 
 extensive districts in the midland and western parts of the 
 island singularly barren of water. 
 
 When it is remembered that the chief range of mountains, 
 or back-bone of the island, runs generally east and west, it 
 will be easily understood that the chief rivers, starting from the 
 northern and southern slopes of this range, would generally 
 have a north and south direction ; that is, those streams rising 
 on the northern side of the great ridge flow northerly to the 
 north side, while those which emanate from the southern slopes 
 run southerly to the south side. 
 
 There are some exceptions to this general rule, the chief 
 of which is the Plantain Garden River, in the parish of St. 
 Thomas, which, rising in the Cuna Cuna Mountains, runs 
 southerly in its upper course ; but, suddenly meeting the coast 
 range of hills, turns easterly, and flowing through the fertile 
 district to which it gives its name, empties itself at Holland 
 Bay. Another is the Montego River, which, although it flows 
 northerly in its upper course, turns westerly through the 
 greater part of its flow, discharging at Montego Bay. 
 
 There are interior rivers (which have no outlet) which are 
 also exceptions to the general rule, such as the Cave and 
 Hector's rivers. While most of the rivers have generally 
 
106 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 northerly and southerly directions, it must not be forgotten 
 that the subordinate ridges, which are nearly at right angles 
 to these lines, will produce subordinate streams, meeting the 
 rivers on their eastern and western banks. 
 
 In consequence of the great elevation from which most of 
 the rivers flow, they are very rapid in their descent, and in 
 times of flood become formidable torrents, sweeping every- 
 thing before them, and operating as dangerous obstructions 
 to the traveller. 
 
 Some of the chief of these are the Plantain Garden River, 
 already mentioned, and the Morant and Yallahs, in the parish 
 of St. Thomas. The Rio Grande, in the parish of Portland, 
 is one of the finest rivers in the island, it flows from the 
 northern slopes of the Blue Mountains. The Back and Stony 
 rivers, two of its great affluents, furnish not only some of the 
 loftiest and most picturesque waterfalls, but the wildest and 
 most romantic country in the island. 
 
 It was on one of these naturally fortified ridges, nearly 
 surrounded by the Stony River, that the notorious Nanny, the 
 renowned Maroon leader, held out against the regular troops 
 about the year 1739. 
 
 All the upper part of the parish of Portland remains 
 unsettled to the present time, in consequence of the steepness 
 of the country and the want of roads, but there is no other- 
 part of the island richer in valuable timbers and other natural 
 productions, and possessing greater advantages for the growth 
 of coffee, cocoa, and cinchona, than this district. The character 
 of the soil and climate is the same as that of St. Andrew and 
 Port Royal Mountains, where the best coffee is produced, but 
 where the coffee-fields are fast wearing out. As nearly the 
 whole of this land in Portland now belongs to the Govern- 
 ment, a fair field is open to persons desirous of cultivating 
 coffee, as it is the only good coffee-land remaining in forest in 
 the island. 
 
 The upper districts of this region, too cold for coffee, and 
 formerly considered valueless, have been demonstrated by the 
 Government to produce the finest cinchona. The success of 
 
RIVERS AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 107 
 
 this Government undertaking will doubtless considerably 
 increase the value of these lands, and there is no doubt that 
 they will soon be much sought after for the cultivation of this 
 valuable product. The other rivers of Portland are the Swift, 
 Spanish, and Buff Bay rivers, all possessing the same character 
 as the Rio Grande. 
 
 In St. Andrew we have the Agua Alta (corrupted to Wag 
 Water) River, which, rising in the mountains back of Stony 
 Hill, runs through the parishes of St. Andrew and St Mary, 
 debouching at Annotto Bay. The Hope River rises in the 
 hills around Newcastle, and joins the sea at the sixth mile- 
 stone from Kingston on the windward road : from this river 
 the city of Kingston is supplied with water. From the 
 "Above Rocks" district of St. Andrew flow the sources of 
 the Rio Pedro, a large tributary of the Rio Cobre, which, 
 with its numerous affluents, traverses the parish of St. 
 Catherine. The gorge, known as Bog Walk, through which 
 the Rio Cobre flows, is remarkable for its wild and picturesque 
 scenery. This river is utilised for irrigating the plains of 
 St. Catherine, and very fine works for the purpose have been 
 constructed by the Government. 
 
 The rivers of St. Mary, besides the Wag Water, are the 
 Dry River, the Annotto, the Port Maria, Ora Cabessa, Rio 
 Nuevo, and the White River, which latter forms the boundary 
 between the parishes of St. Mary and St. Ann. The volume 
 of water in the White River is considerable, and the great 
 cascade above Industry and the Falls at Prospect are very 
 grand, and form objects of attraction to visitors. 
 
 The parish of St. Ann, being chiefly of limestone formation, 
 furnishes no rivers of any consequence in the interior. The 
 sea coast rivers are numerous : the Roaring River and the 
 Laudovery River possess large volumes of water. 
 
 The cascades on both these rivers are very beautiful, 
 particularly those of Roaring River, where the main road 
 crosses it. In the yellow limestone and granite formation at 
 Guy's Hill, the great river flows and sinks at Middlesex 
 Township ; rising again at Rio Hoe it forms the beautiful 
 
 H 
 
108 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 lakes of Tadmore and Walton, the former covering over 100 
 acres, while the latter is nearly 340 acres in area. Sometimes, 
 however, these lakes run off down the numerous sink holes 
 which exist there, and which must now be either closed with 
 debris, or the subterraneous reservoirs must be full to over- 
 flowing. The Cave and Hector's rivers rise near the junction 
 of the parishes of Clarendon and Manchester with St. Ann 
 and Trelawny, and, running in opposite directions, form the 
 northern and southern boundaries of these parishes respectively. 
 
 The Cave Eiver flows easterly, sinking at Greenock Estate ; 
 thence it is supposed to have a subterranean course of 13 J 
 miles or more, and rising near Dornock Pen with considerable 
 volume, is called Eio Bueno, and, with a course of 6-| miles to 
 the sea, forms the boundary between St. Ann and Trelawny. 
 The Hector's River runs westerly, and after a course of about 
 12 miles, terminates in several sinks, in a wild and broken 
 country. This river again makes its appearance at Oxford, in 
 Manchester, where it goes by the name of One Eye Eiver, 
 and again sinking there, it passes through a ridge to the north 
 of Bogue Hill, and rises in considerable body at Mexico and 
 Island Estates, from which points to the sea it is called the 
 Black Eiver. This is certainly the finest river in the island. 
 With a tortuous course of about 44 miles, it debouches at 
 Black Eiver Bay, near the town of that name. This river is 
 navigable for boats of considerable size for a distance of about 
 25 miles, and is used for conveying the produce of a large 
 district to the sea. 
 
 The Black Eiver receives several tributaries of considerable 
 size, which are also partially navigable, such as the Y. S., 
 Broad, Grass, and Horse Savanna rivers. 
 
 The Eio Minho or Dry Eiver rises with numerous tributaries 
 in the Clarendon Mountains, and flowing through the entire 
 length of the parish of Clarendon and district of Yere, 
 discharges near Carlisle Bay. In consequence of the arenaceous 
 character of the soil, the water of this river sinks a little below 
 Longville Estate, 16 miles from the sea. The lower part of 
 this river, say from Seven Plantation Estates to a little above 
 
RIVERS AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 109 
 
 the Alley in Vere, is therefore usually dry, except a consider- 
 able spring at Parnassus Estate, where the water flows for a 
 short distance ; the water appearing a little above the Alley, 
 flows to the sea. 
 
 In floods the Eio Minho is a most formidable river, and 
 formerly, when " down " as the expression is all communica- 
 tion along the south side of the island was cut off ; but a few 
 years ago the Government erected a very fine iron bridge across 
 the river at May Pen, which has answered all its expectations. 
 The Cockpit and Salt rivers are short but deep rivers. The 
 Milk Kiver is also a very fine river, and is navigable for some 
 miles up. A considerable quantity of logwood is shipped 
 from this river. Along the foot of the Manchester Mountains 
 considerable water rises, and with short channels flows to the 
 sea. The largest of these rivers are the Alligator Hole, Swift, 
 and Gut rivers. 
 
 Trelawny only furnishes one river of importance : this is the 
 Martha Brae Eiver. This river rises at Windsor, in the 
 interior of the parish, and seems to be the waters of the 
 Quashie and Mouth rivers, which are interior rivers that rise 
 and sink in the Black Grounds. The Martha Brae is a fine 
 river, navigable for some distance up, and discharges to the 
 east of Falmouth. The Montego Eiver rises in the trap 
 formation near Maroon Town, and is there called Tangle 
 Eiver. It sinks and reappears, and after receiving numerous 
 tributaries, enters the sea south of the town of Montego Bay. 
 
 The Great Eiver is the boundary of St. James next to 
 Hanover and Westmoreland. It is a long river, but has few 
 tributaries, the Lamb's and Seven rivers being the chief. 
 
 The rivers of Hanover are the Flint, Maggotty, Lucea (east 
 and west), Lance's, Davis' Cove, Pell and Green Island rivers; 
 none of these are large rivers, or demand any special notice. 
 
 In Westmoreland the chief river is the Cabaritta. This is 
 also a very fine river, and with its tributaries, the Thicket, 
 and Morgan's rivers, waters the alluvial districts of the 
 parish. There are also the Dean's Valley or Sweet rivers, 
 Savanna and Negril rivers. 
 
110 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. C A VEENS. 
 
 The limestone formation, so prevalent in Jamaica, furnishes 
 many caverns and sink holes of great size and grandeur, the 
 chief of which is the beautiful cave at the place called Cave 
 Hall Pen, two miles east of Dry Harbour, near the main road. 
 This cave is of great length, and has two branches; the 
 various apartments are designated grottoes, halls, domes, and 
 galleries ; and the stalactites and stalagmites, formed by the 
 dripping of calcareous water, glittering in the torchlight, 
 impart a magical effect to the scene. The Grand Cave at 
 Biver Head, in St. Thomas-in-the-Vale, is a very remarkable 
 place. The Kio Cobre, after sinking at Worthy Park, emerges 
 from this cave. It is of great dimensions, and in former years 
 was a favourite resort for pic-nics ; it is traversible, with the 
 assistance of a raft to cross some deep water, for a distance of 
 over a quarter of a mile, until the "flood-gate" is reached, 
 where the water gushes from the rock. The cave at Mexico, 
 in St. Elizabeth, is probably the longest in the island ; it is 
 nearly a mile from the One Eye Gulf to Mexico Gulf (the 
 mouth of the cave). The One Eye or Black Eiver passes 
 through this cave. It has been explored for some distance in, 
 but in consequence of some deep bodies of water obstructing 
 the passage, less is known of it than of the Eio Cobre Cave. 
 A thorough exploration of this cave would be most interesting. 
 
 The Pern Cave, also in St. Elizabeth, is very beautiful, and 
 the stalactites and stalagmites here show to great effect. 
 There is also a very fine cave at Mount Plenty, in St. Ann, 
 which can be traversed for a distance of ten chains ; it has two 
 branches, and the vaulted chambers are particularly fine. At 
 some distance from the mouth it is illuminated by a sink hole 
 from the top. 
 
 Another very fine cave is that from which the Mouth Eiver 
 flows in the Black Grounds of the parish of Trelawny. There 
 is also a remarkable cave near this at Spring Garden. The 
 cave at Portland, in Vere, is very tine, and used formerly to be 
 a great place for pic-nics. There are numerous other caves 
 
MINERAL SPRINGS. Ill 
 
 of smaller dimensions throughout the island. Sink holes, as 
 already stated, are also very numerous. The "Light Hole" at 
 Tingley's, in St. Ann, is a sink hole on a large scale. This is a 
 great arena of vertical rocks, some three or four chains in dia- 
 meter, and of considerable depth, with large trees growing at 
 the bottom. Many of the sink holes and caves throughout 
 the island have springs at the bottom, such as the Governor's 
 Cave at Healthshire ; a sink hole near Fort Clarence, opposite 
 Port Eoyal; a Cave near Salt Eiver; one at Swansea, inLuidas 
 Vale, &c. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. MINEEAL SPEINGS. 
 
 There are many mineral springs in Jamaica, most of them 
 possessing valuable qualities for the cure of various diseases 
 and infirmities of the body. Two of these are particularly 
 famed, namely, the hot sulphurous spring at Bath, and the 
 warm salt spring at Milk Eiver. 
 
 There are public institutions maintained at both these 
 springs, for the benefit of those unfortunately requiring relief. 
 The spring at Bath, in the parish of St. Thomas, is the hottest 
 in the island, the temperature at the fountain head is 126 to 
 128 F., but the water loses about 9 degrees of heat in its 
 transit to the baths. 
 
 These waters are sulphuric, and contain a large proportion 
 of hydro-sulphate of lime ; they are not purgative, and are 
 beneficial in gout, rheumatism, gravelly complaints, cutaneous 
 affections, and fevers. Some new buildings have lately been 
 erected for the accommodation of visitors, and the manage- 
 ment is creditable. It is remarkable that a cold spring flows 
 from the same hill-side, near the hot spring, so that cold and 
 hot water are delivered alongside of each other at the bath. 
 The bath at Milk Eiver, in the district of Vere, is one of the 
 most remarkable in the world. It is a warm, saline, purgative 
 bath ; the temperature is 92 F. It is particularly efficacious 
 in the cure of gout, rheumatism, paralysis, and neuralgia ; also 
 in cases of disordered liver and spleen. 
 
112 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Some wouderful results are on record, and it is believed 
 that if the beneficial effects of these waters were more generally 
 known in Europe and America, a large number of sufferers 
 would be attracted to them. The buildings are extensive, 
 they have lately been repaired and improved, and comfortable 
 and moderate accommodation can now be obtained by 
 visitors. 
 
 The Spa Spring, or Jamaica Spa, as it is called, at Silver 
 Hill, in St. Andrew, was formerly maintained as a government 
 institution, and extensive buildings once existed there ; but 
 they have long gone to decay, and the spring neglected. 
 These waters are chalybeate, a? rated, cold, tonic ; beneficial in 
 most cases of debility, particularly after fever, in dropsy and 
 stomach complaints. 
 
 Another similar spring, but Dot so strong a chalybeate, 
 exists at St. Faith, in the district of St. John. 
 
 There is also a remarkable spring at Moffat, on the White 
 Eiver, a tributary of the Negro Kiver, in Blue Mountain 
 Valley. These waters are sulphuric, cold and purgative, 
 useful in itch and all cutaneous diseases. A similar spring 
 exists near the source of the Cabaritta Eiver, in Hanover. 
 
 The spring at Windsor, near St. Ann's Bay, was lately 
 brought into considerable prominence in consequence of some 
 remarkable cures effected by its use. People from all parts of 
 the island visited it, and the water was carried away to great 
 distances. It is still a favourite among the peasantry, and it is 
 said to possess wonderful powers in healing ulcers, &c. 
 
 There are warm springs at Garbrand Hall, on the east 
 branch of the Morant Kiver, and on the Adam's River, near 
 the Blue Mountain Eidge, in the parish of St. Thomas. The 
 well-known spring at New Brighton, in St. Catherine, is the 
 favourite bath of the inhabitants of Spanish Town. A mineral 
 spring also occurs on the sea edge at Manatee Bay, also in 
 St. Catherine. 
 
 Another, possessing some qualities of importance, is to be 
 found at Golden Vale, in Portland ; and there are salt springs 
 near the Ferry on the Kingston and Spanish Town road, and 
 
PARISHES KINGSTON. 113 
 
 at Salt River, in Yere ; and in many other localities salt-water 
 springs are found, and some impregnated with soda or other 
 alkalies. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. DESCRIPTION OF PARISHES. 
 1. KINGSTON. 
 
 Having already stated the boundaries of the parish, we shall 
 describe the principal towns. 
 
 Kingston is the capital of the island of Jamaica, and is the 
 largest and most important commercial town in the British 
 West Indies. It covers, with its adjacent villages, an area 
 of about 1,080 acres, and is beautifully situated on regularly 
 sloping ground, on the northern shore of the harbour bearing 
 its name. 
 
 The streets at right angles to the sea were originally laid out 
 north and south ; those parallel to the general run of the shore- 
 line, east and west ; but in consequence of the variation of 
 the compass, the streets running north and south now have a 
 bearing of north 2 east, and the east and west streets bear 
 north-west and south-east 88 ; it will therefore be seen that 
 these streets are at right angles with each other. 
 
 The land on which Kingston stands has a general slope to 
 the sea of about 90 feet per mile, or about one in 58J feet, and 
 must originally have had a uniform smooth surface; but in 
 consequence of former neglect, in permitting flood waters to 
 flow down the north and south streets, they are now so worn 
 as to be much below the general level ; the uniform surface 
 has therefore been destroyed. 
 
 In consequence of this depression of the north and south 
 streets, the east and west streets now furnish an irregular 
 section at their intersections. King Street, running north and 
 south, was originally the centre of the town, and laid out at 66 
 feet wide ; Queen Street, also 66 feet wide, was the centre 
 running east and west ; but in consequence of the town having 
 been extended northerly and easterly, these streets do not now 
 form the centres of the town. At the intersection of 
 
114 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 and Queen Streets a plaza or parade ground was reserved, 
 forming a square of ten acres in the centre of the town. This 
 was formerly used as a market-place and parade ground for 
 the troops and militia ; but about twelve years ago the central 
 portion was enclosed, and converted by the Government into 
 a garden and arboretum, which has added much to the 
 appearance of the town, and to the comfort and amusement 
 of the inhabitants. A military band plays there once a week. 
 
 The soil is a gravel bed, formed by the detritus of centuries, 
 produced by the Hope Eiver and other smaller streams from 
 the Liguanea Mountains. It may here be mentioned that the 
 ancient course of the Hope River which now discharges at 
 the back of Long Mountain, six miles to the east of Kingston 
 is distinctly traceable through Papine and Mona, and near the 
 Hope Road, and down to the sea about a mile and a half to 
 the east of Kingston. 
 
 On account of the gravelly nature of the soil on which King- 
 ston stands, surplus water rapidly sinks and finds its way to 
 the sea. It therefore has little opportunity for creating 
 malaria ; and, consequently, Kingston is one of the healthiest 
 seaport towns in the West Indies. 
 
 The drainage for flood waters is by no means as perfect as 
 it might be, although of late years it has been improved by a 
 conduit, leading these waters along North Street to the west- 
 ward of the city, and another along Queen Street and through 
 the Parade Gardens, delivering them beyond the Railway 
 Station at the sea. 
 
 Kingston was originally supplied with water by wells, most 
 of which, in consequence of the gravelly nature of the soil, had 
 to reach the sea level before water was obtained. About the 
 year 1848 a private company brought down the water from 
 the Hope River, for the supply of the city. A few years ago 
 the Government purchased the entire plant from the company, 
 and have very much improved the supply, not only by build- 
 ing reservoirs and filter beds, and furnishing a larger quantity, 
 but by extending the supply to districts formerly destitute of 
 water. The pressure in the lower part of the town is sufficient, 
 
PARISHES KINGSTON. 115 
 
 in cases of fire, to throw the water to the top of the highest 
 houses. Kingston must therefore be said to be well supplied 
 with water. 
 
 The site of Kingston was not the first chosen by the English 
 for the commercial capital of the island. Port Boyal flourished 
 as such until 1692, in which year occurred the great earth- 
 quake which destroyed that place, and caused the death of 
 3,000 of its inhabitants. That dealt it a fearful blow. 
 
 Many people remained there, but most of the survivors 
 removed to the lower part of Liguanea, in St. Andrew, then 
 the property of Sir William Beeston, afterwards Lieutenant- 
 Governor of the island. They procured for their settlement 
 the status of a town, a plan for which was drawn up by a 
 Colonel Christian Lilly, under the direction of the Government, 
 the name selected being " Kingston." There was not at first 
 much progress in its settlement, the recollection of the former 
 wealth and greatness of Port Royal giving the colonists a 
 continued preference for that place ; but the fire of 1703 
 completely destroyed the favourite town, and the disheartened 
 inhabitants went in large numbers to Kingston, which the 
 assembly caused to be divided into lots, and given to those 
 who had lost their houses. A law was also passed directing 
 the slave-owners in the parish of St. Andrew to send one out 
 of every twenty of their slaves to build temporary huts for 
 the refugees ; and as an encouragement for the early settlement 
 of the new town, every house built within the year (1703) was 
 exempted from taxes for seven years. Soon after this another 
 law was passed, declaring Kingston to be " the chief seat of 
 trade and head port of entry " of the island. 
 
 From this time the prosperity of the town was assured, 
 and in the year 1713 it was declared by law that the place 
 should "for ever be taken and esteemed as an entire and 
 distinct parish, with all the powers of any other parish ; " and, 
 further, that it "should have the right of sending three 
 representatives to the Assembly." So rapidly had the town 
 grown, that in 1716 it was thus described by an historian 
 of the time : 
 
116 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 " Within the harbour, and about six miles from the town of 
 Port Koyal, lies the town of Kingston, first laid out and 
 partially settled after the great earthquake. On the fire of 
 Port Eoyal, in the year 1703, thither resorted the most con- 
 siderable traders, and trading sort of people ; and it is now 
 become greatly increased in houses, stores, wharves, and other 
 conveniences for trade and business, so that it is by much 
 the largest town in the island : and if the island shall increase 
 in people and new settlements (the consequences of trade and 
 riches) it is likely to be much the fairest town in all the Indies, 
 for 'tis most commodiously laid out, happily and beautifully 
 situated, has many spacious houses in it, (and more are daily 
 building), is the residence of the greatest merchants and 
 traders, and has resorting to it most of the ships or vessels 
 that come to the island, and in it is managed the greatest part 
 of the trade of Jamaica." 
 
 For nearly half a century the town continued to grow in 
 size and opulence, and so important had it become in 1755 
 that the attempt was then made to constitute it the seat of 
 government. 
 
 Governor Knowles twice proposed, and the Assembly twice 
 rejected, a bill for that purpose, but at length the Assembly 
 gave way, and a law was passed giving effect to the arrange- 
 ment. 
 
 Soon after the public archives were removed to Kingston, 
 and the superior courts were established there. But the change 
 was unpopular throughout the island, and numerous petitions 
 against it were sent to the king. On the 3rd October, 1758, 
 the disallowance of the law was proclaimed, and the records 
 were returned to Spanish Town, escorted by a "considerable 
 body of military. " 
 
 In 1780 the town was severely stricken by a great fire, which 
 broke out at about two o'clock in the morning of the 16th May, 
 and continued until the following evening. The large and 
 closely-built portion of the town lying between King and 
 Orange Streets was burnt down, the destruction of property 
 being estimated at 30,000. 
 
PA RISHES KINGSTON. 117 
 
 But the town soon recovered from the effect of the con- 
 flagration, and prospered to such an extent that in 1802 it 
 was granted a corporation, under the style of "the Mayor, 
 Aldermen, and Common Council of the city and parish of 
 Kingston." The Court of Common Council was given a seal, 
 and empowered to make and ordain bye-laws, ordinances, and 
 regulations for the good order of the city, not repugnant to 
 prerogative, nor to the laws of the island. The following is a 
 description of the city seal. On one side, the island arms, 
 crest supporters, and mottoes : Legend, Sigil : Commune Civil: 
 Kingston in Jamaica. Reverse, Britannia, in the dress of 
 Minerva, holding the trident in one hand, and in the other a 
 mirror, reflecting the rays of the benign influence of heaven 
 on the produce of the island ; behind her the British lion 
 supporting her shield, a couch-shell at her feet, and at a 
 distance a ship under sail Legend, <Hos fovet, hos curat, 
 servatque Britannia Mater. In 1843 another great fire de- 
 vastated a large portion of the city ; it began shortly before 
 ten A.M. on the 26th of August, in a foundry situated at the 
 east end of Harbour Street, and extended diagonally across 
 the city until it reached the old Eoman Catholic Chapel at the 
 corner of Duke Street. Many of the best dwellings and much 
 valuable effects were consumed, and a large number of persons 
 were left in utter destitution. The sum of 10,149 16s. 2d. 
 was distributed among the sufferers, of which 5,000 was 
 voted by the House of Assembly. At this period a great deal 
 of the foreign trade of Kingston had disappeared, in con- 
 sequence of the establishing of direct steam communication 
 between the European and Spanish American States ; still 
 Kingston continued an important centre of commerce. 
 
 In March 1862 another great fire occurred, by which the 
 commercial division of the city was devastated. Nineteen of 
 the principal fancy and other stores in Harbour and Port 
 Eoyal Streets, three wharves, and the extensive and well-built 
 three-storied house in which the Commercial Hotel was kept, 
 were burnt down, at a loss of 30,100. The value of the 
 merchandize, furniture, &c., destroyed, was estimated at 
 
118 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA, 
 
 60,830, making a total of 90,930. Of this 9,400 was 
 covered by insurances, leaving 81,530 as the total loss to the 
 owners of the premises and stock. 
 
 The sum of 499 16s. was distributed, by order of the 
 Executive, to the necessitous sufferers. Three years afterwards 
 representative government was abandoned in Jamaica, and 
 Kingston ceased to be a corporate city. All the powers and 
 immunities of the Common Council were transferred to a 
 nominated Municipal Board, created by Law 8 of 1866, the 
 privilege of making ordinances for the regulation of the city 
 being transferred to the Governor in Privy Council. 
 
 For many years it had become evident that the conve- 
 nience of the Government and of the general public would be 
 best served by the transfer of the seat of goyernment from 
 Spanish Town, and in 1872 Sir John Grant, with the approval 
 of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, gave effect to the 
 change. 
 
 The chief courts of law had been removed a few years be- 
 fore, as well as the offices of some departments of Govern- 
 ment, and the transfer of the Governor's permanent residence, 
 and of the Colonial Secretariat, alone remained to be effected. 
 Koom for this department was provided in the spacious 
 premises known as Head-quarter House (late the military 
 headquarters), which was purchased for 5,000 ; and Bishop's 
 Lodge (the former residence of the bishops of Jamaica), 
 situated in the Liguanea Plain, was also purchased for conver- 
 sion into a Government house. The Legislative Council 
 was thereafter convened in Kingston, and a chamber for its 
 deliberations found in the large hall in the first story of Head- 
 quarter House. 
 
 Kingston has now a population of 38,566 souls, inhabiting 
 over 4,350 houses a tax roll of 19,919 ; an import trade of 
 903,871 ; an export trade of 384,819 ; and an inward and 
 outward tonnage of 626,689 tons. The import duties collected 
 at the port during 1880-81 amounted to 180,237 2s. 6d., 
 and the export duties to 3,809 Os. 5d. The rum duties 
 received during the same period were 32,913. The monthly 
 
PARISHES KINGSTON. 119 
 
 deposits in the Savings Bank average .8,000. There are 
 three building societies, doing business in the city to the 
 extent of .50,000 per annum, and nineteen fire insurance 
 companies accepting risks all over the island to the amount 
 of a million and a half of pounds per annum. Besides 
 these, a discount society, and ten life assurance companies, 
 and a marine insurance company, are in successful operation 
 in the city. The mortgages held by the Kingston Benefit 
 Building Society, on 28th February 1881, amounted to 
 108,301 16s. 7d. The city is lighted with gas, and the 
 principal thoroughfares are traversed by street cars. A 
 remarkably handsome and commodious market adorns the 
 lower end of one of the principal streets. In connection with 
 this structure is a public landing place. Near the pier is a 
 well executed marble statue of Admiral Lord Rodney, 
 removed from Spanish Town, where it was erected in 1782 
 in memory of his decisive victory over the French fleet 
 commanded by Count de Grasse. The naval hero, in acknow- 
 ledging the honour done him by the people of Jamaica in 
 erecting this statue, described the island as "the brightest 
 jewel in the British diadem," a designation of which the 
 inhabitants are still justly proud. In the upper part of the 
 same street (King Street), and immediately opposite to the 
 principal entrance of the Public Gardens, is the statue of another 
 illustrious man, Sir Charles Metcalf, which, as the inscription 
 on the plinth announces, was erected " by the grateful inhabit- 
 ants of Jamaica, in commemoration of the benefits derived 
 from his wise, just, and beneficial administration of the 
 government of the island." 
 
 On the eastern side of the Parade (or Garden) stands 
 another full length marble statue, that of the Honourable 
 Edward Jordon, C.B., " who, through a long series of years, and 
 in times of danger, fearlessly stood forward as the champion 
 of emancipation, and for the removal of civil disabilities." 
 This memorial was, as the inscription states, erected "by 
 public subscription, in humble acknowledgment of the im- 
 portant services rendered to his country " by the deceased, 
 
120 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 who, " honoured by his Sovereign, and beloved by the people, 
 will ever be remembered as one of Jamaica's most distinguished 
 sons." 
 
 The statue of another distinguished Jamaican, Doctor Lewis 
 Q. Bowerbank, was erected in 1881, on the northern side of 
 the Garden. The inscription on the memorial is as follows : 
 " This statue was erected by his numerous friends and 
 admirers, in memory of him, in his private character, as a 
 Christian gentleman ; in his professional, as a distinguished 
 physician and sanitary reformer ; and in his public, as a 
 custos whose administration is a tradition and a model. Born 
 in Jamaica, 1814." 
 
 Among the principal buildings of the city are the Theatre, 
 Lunatic Asylum, Public Hospital, General Penitentiary, Mico 
 Institution, the Town Hall, and the Institute. A substantial 
 permanent iron Grand Stand has recently been erected on the 
 racecourse. The many places of worship are creditable and 
 commodious structures, the finest in architectural appearance 
 being Coke Chapel, on the Parade, and St. Michael's Church, 
 near Eae Town. 
 
 The old Parish Church, now being enlarged and renovated, 
 is dear to the inhabitants of Kingston, not alone for its 
 comparative antiquity, but because of the historic memories 
 with which it is associated. 
 
 "Within its walls " Old Benbow," " a true pattern of English 
 courage," finds a last resting-place, having died in Kingston, 
 as the inscription on his tomb shows, " of a wound in his legge 
 received in an engagement with Monsieur du Casse, November 
 4th, 1702." We must not omit to mention the Gas-works, at 
 the west end of the town, solid buildings, creditable to any 
 European town. The Supreme Court of Judicature occupies 
 the old court-house in Harbour Street ; and the City, District, 
 and Petty Sessions Courts are held in the former Military 
 Barracks, on the western side of the Public Garden ; there, 
 too, are the extensive offices of the Director of Roads and 
 Surveyor-General, and the offices of the Protector of Immi- 
 grants, the Inspector of Schools, and the Inspector of Prisons. 
 
PAKISHES KINGSTON. 121 
 
 The Medical Department is located in East Street ; the Regis- 
 trar-General's office and the Government Printing Establish- 
 ment are in the upper part of Duke Street ; the Treasury, 
 Audit-office and Savings Bank, and the General Post-office, 
 in the lower part of Harbour Street, the Telegraph head- 
 quarters being in Port Royal Street. The head office of the 
 Internal Revenue Department, and the Customs of Kingston, 
 with the bonding and rum warehouses, lie at the west end of 
 the city : and the railway station, with its commodious wharf 
 and stores, is in close proximity thereto. It is contemplated, 
 at an early date, to erect at the north end of the Public 
 Garden, where the theatre now stands, suitable Government 
 offices, on a plan architecturally worthy of the important 
 metropolis of Jamaica. Among the social institutions of the 
 city may be mentioned the " Jamaica Club," located in 
 Hanover Street, and several cricket clubs, Masonic, Forester, 
 and Good Templar fraternities. 
 
 The private residences in the upper part of the city are well 
 built, and as a rule surrounded by trimly -kept gardens ; for 
 this class of houses rents vary, but range between 50 and 
 ,100 a year The direct taxes amount to 3s. lOd. in the pound. 
 
 Lines of steamers touch at Kingston regularly, keeping up 
 communication direct with England, New York, Halifax, and 
 France. A coasting steamer leaves Kingston once in every 
 ten days for the outports. Mail coaches leave the railway 
 terminus at Old Harbour for Mandeville, and the Spanish 
 Town station for St. Ann's Bay, and return three times a 
 week. 
 
 The lines of the Jamaica Tramway Company are laid from 
 the foot of King Street to Half-way Tree ; to the top of East 
 Street ; to Paradise Street on the Windward Road ; to the 
 General Penitentiary at Rae Town, and to the Jamaica Rail- 
 way ; and cars run on the lines at intervals of 20 minutes. 
 
 There are several hotels and lodging-houses in the town, the 
 best known and most patronised being the "Jamaica Hotel," 
 kept by Miss Susan Burton, which is a well-ordered establish- 
 ment. Mrs. Gall's establishment at the sea-side is also well 
 
122 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 patronised. In all there are sixteen lodging-houses, and about 
 the same number of taverns. 
 
 Several daily and tri-weekly newspapers are published in 
 the city. Postal deliveries take place three times a day, and 
 posts are made up for,, the home parishes daily, and for the 
 country parishes three times a week. 
 
 The markets are plentifully supplied. Butchers' meat is 
 cheap. Fruit, vegetables, and fish are abundant, at reasonable 
 rates. There are many fine stores, well supplied with articles 
 of all kinds, and the ruling prices are moderate. 
 
 The climate is dry. The thermometer reaches as high as 
 94 in the hot months, and as low as 66 in the cool months. 
 
 PORT ROYAL situate at the extreme end of a narrow neck of 
 land, facing the entire front of the harbour of Kingston, and 
 acting as a natural breakwater is, as it were, the entrance 
 gate to that harbour. Port Royal was, prior to the great earth- 
 quake, "the finest town in the West Indies, and at that time 
 the richest spot in the universe." It was the headquarters 
 of the buccaneers, and as such, the emporium and mart of their 
 ill-gotten wealth. 
 
 The present Naval Hospital, which is a very fine building, is 
 built of iron and stone, and is 380 feet long, and 57^ feet 
 broad. It can accommodate about 130 patients in the upper 
 portion, and the ground floor, which is available for use in the 
 event of any emergency arriving, will accommodate about half 
 as many more, so that the hospital can find room for 200 
 patients in all. 
 
 A yellow-fever hospital has lately been added by Dr. Thomas 
 Golan, the late deputy inspector-general, in which yellow- 
 fever cases can be isolated and treated, and the necessity of 
 the main hospital being put in quarantine is thus obviated. 
 This arrangement has worked very satisfactorily. 
 
 The naval-yard, or dock -yard as it is commonly called, con- 
 tains the official residence of the Commodore and his staff. 
 The dock-yard is equipped with a well-found machine shop, 
 where steam-engines and the machinery of war-ships are 
 
PARISHES ST. ANDREW. 123 
 
 almost constantly being repaired. If, however, a large ship 
 requires to be docked for an examination of the bottom, it 
 becomes necessary to resort to Bermuda, where a floating dock 
 of immense size is available to the fleet. 
 
 Port Royal has always been considered important as a 
 naval station. As recently as the American war and the 
 French occupation of Mexico, the fleet on the North American 
 and West India station numbered some 25 ships, a goodly 
 portion of which were constantly calling into Port Royal to 
 coal, to obtain fresh provisions, and to refit, and the Archduke 
 Maximilian, on his way to Mexico, was met there by eleven 
 ships of war. 
 
 The importance of Port Royal as a naval station is likely to 
 increase on the completion of the Canal connecting the 
 Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean. The town suffered severely 
 in the hurricane of the 18th August 1880, and very many of 
 the houses, then wholly or partially destroyed, remain in a 
 condition of dilapidation. The place is generally reputed to 
 be healthy, although, as a matter of history, epidemics of 
 cholera, small-pox, and yellow fever have occurred there. At 
 one time Port Royal laid claim to be regarded as a sanitorium 
 or marine resort, but owing to the want of house accommoda- 
 tion, and other causes, the people of Kingston do not now 
 resort to it for change of air. 
 
 The population of Port Royal, according to the census of 
 1881, was 6,608. 
 
 2. ST. ANDREW. 
 
 This parish offers many advantages to the agriculturist ; 
 its soil is fertile, and in the interior the seasons are, as a rule, 
 favourable ; its proximity to Kingston, the chief mart of the 
 island, is greatly in its favour ; and traffic is rendered com- 
 paratively easy, owing to the state of preservation in which 
 the roads are kept. In some parts, chiefly in what are known 
 as the St. Joseph's and Port Royal districts, owing to the 
 hilly nature of the country, only bridle paths exist, along 
 which it is practicable only for pack-beasts to be used for the 
 
124 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 conveyance of merchandise. The St. James's and St. Chris- 
 topher's districts are intersected by the Kingston and Annotto 
 Bay Junction road, a very great benefit to the occupants of 
 the surrounding lands ; and the latter district, as well as that 
 of Liguauea, is traversed in several directions by roads which 
 are available for vehicles. 
 
 Half-way Tree is a wide-spread village, without the concen- 
 tration entitling it to be called a town. It is situated about 
 three miles from Kingston, and the cars of the Jamaica Street 
 Tramway Company run between the two places every twenty 
 minutes. The village is a very thriving one, fast rising into 
 importance. 
 
 The Parish Church, which will repay a visit, has lately been 
 enlarged and renovated at considerable cost, and is esteemed 
 a handsome structure. To those curious in such matters the 
 memorial slabs and the stones in the church, and church- 
 yard attached to the church, will prove interesting. They 
 tell of many naval and military heroes, and men in the first 
 ranks of civil life. There is a splendid monument inside the 
 church to Sir Nicholas Lawes, once Lieutenant-Governor of 
 the island, and a benefactor to the parish. A more recent 
 Lieutenant-Go vernor, Mr. E. E. Kushworth, C.M.G., is also 
 commemorated in the churchyard. 
 
 A market a neat structure of iron and wood was opened 
 on the 1st of August 1881, and promises to be in time a great 
 accommodation, both to the neighbouring families and the pea- 
 santry. Many local improvements, indicative of the interest 
 taken in the labouring classes by their wealthier neighbours, 
 have been initiated of late. By the liberality and active interest 
 of Lady Musgrave and Miss Newton, the niece of the Lieu- 
 tenant-Governor, a soup and coffee-room has been built, which 
 it is hoped will have a good, moral, and social influence on the 
 peasantry. This institution is now open, and in full operation. 
 
 A sleeping room for the use and accommodation of market- 
 women will also be built shortly, making provision for a class 
 of persons who, from the nature of their avocation, are sub- 
 jected to great privation, exposure, and demoralization. 
 
PARISHES ST. ANDREW. 125 
 
 A village library and reading room (supplied gratuitously 
 with suitable illustrated papers and magazines) will shortly 
 be opened, with the small subscription of a penny per week. 
 
 Among the principal buildings on the Liguanea Plain, which 
 is dotted all over with the residences of the gentry, is King's 
 House, the official residence of the Governor of Jamaica, which 
 was formerly the "Bishop's Lodge," the residence of the 
 bishops of the diocese. Nine miles from Kingston to the 
 north-east, by way of the " Cross Roads," the old Hope Toll- 
 bar, and the Hope Road leaving to the left the experimental 
 Government plantation, and the head works and reservoirs of 
 the Kingston and Liguanea Water-works, at Hope lies the 
 growing village of Gordon Town, where there are a post-office, 
 a constabulary station, and a court-house. 
 
 At the foot of the hill leading to Newcastle is a picket 
 house in connection with the cantonment at Newcastle. 
 
 An omnibus runs between Gordon Town and Kingston 
 every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, leaving Bolton's 
 livery stables at Gordon Town at 8.30 A.M., and Mr. John 
 Macdonald's store in Kingston, on the return journey, at 
 4 P.M. The charge is 4s. each trip, or 6s. for the " return 
 ticket." 
 
 The military cantonment at Newcastle, on one of the spurs 
 of the Blue Mountain range, is the station of the white troops, 
 consisting generally of a wing of a regiment, and part of a 
 battery of artillery. It is situated 3,974 feet above the sea, 
 amid charming scenery, and in a very healthy climate. At 
 about the same elevation, on another spur of the same range 
 of hills, is situated " Flamstead," which has been purchased 
 by Governor Musgrave as a mountain residence in the hotter 
 months of the year. 
 
 Up-Park Camp Barracks, about l miles north of Kingston, 
 contain the headquarters of a West India Regiment and the 
 brigade office. The situation of this place is admittedly healthy, 
 and a constant sea-breeze blowing over it makes the hottest 
 days endurable. There is a splendid view of the harbour to be 
 obtained from these barracks, which consist of two long 
 
126 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 parallel lines of buildings, two stories high. There is an 
 excellent hospital for the troops, and a splendid swimming 
 bath of running water. The quarters of the Field Officers are 
 separate buildings, each standing by itself, in its own compound. 
 The former military barracks at Stony Hill, about 10 miles* 
 from Kingston, on the main road leading towards Annotto 
 Bay, are now used for the purposes of a reformatory, where 
 some 300 boys and girls were detained. The girls are now 
 removed to a separate establishment near Kingston. 
 
 The productions of this parish are rum, sugar, and coffee ; 
 the latter brings a high price (especially the high-hill coffee) 
 in the home markets. Bananas are now being cultivated to 
 a large extent ; and some attention is being bestowed on the 
 culture of oranges, cocoa, and grapes, of which latter several 
 plants have been recently imported, and are being grown 
 under the care of an Italian, on one of the coffee plantations 
 in the high mountains. The Government cinchona plantations 
 are an acknowledged success, the bark produced there having 
 sold recently in England at a higher rate than most others of 
 the kind. Many proprietors of lands in the higher elevations 
 of the parish are now entering upon the cultivation of cinchona. 
 The Liguanea Plain is celebrated for its pine apples ; it is said 
 nothing can equal the flavour of a " Eipley " grown here, 
 and the cultivation of this fruit is being largely extended. 
 The population of this parish by the census of 1881 is 34,982 : 
 17,251 males, and 17,731 females. 
 
 3. ST. THOMAS. 
 
 Travelling eastward from Kingston, we pass the quarry at 
 Rock Fort, and through the gateway which is one of the few 
 remains of the strongholds of our forefathers we enter the 
 parish of St. Thomas. 
 
 After leaving Eock Fort, the first place of any importance 
 reached is Yallahs Bay, where there are an Episcopal Church 
 (built in the 17th century), a Wesleyan and a Baptist Chapel. 
 There are two great salt-ponds in the vicinity which supply an 
 abundance of fine fish, and are a source of livelihood to the 
 
PARISHES ST. THOMAS. 127 
 
 villagers. Albion Estate, about one mile west of Yallahs Bay, 
 is one of the finest sugar estates in the island, being supplied 
 with an excellent system of irrigation. Easington, in the 
 interior, hard by the bank of the Yallahs, was the parish 
 station of St. David before it was merged into the parish of 
 St. Thomas. 
 
 There is a fine suspension bridge over the Yallahs River, 
 near Easington. St. Thomas is one of the oldest parishes in 
 the island. It was settled by the Spaniards, and was thus 
 described by Venables " Morante is a large and beautiful 
 liato^ being four leagues in length, consisting of many small 
 savannas, and has wild cattle and hogs in very great plenty, 
 and ends at the Mine, which is at the cape or point of 
 Morante itself, by which, towards the north, is the port 
 of Antonio." 
 
 The parish of St. Thomas, which embraces the old parish of 
 St. David, is endowed by nature with a greater variety of soil 
 and climate than most of the other parishes. The chief pro- 
 ducts are sugar, rum, coffee, logwood, tobacco, cocoa-nuts, 
 bananas, nutmegs, and chocolate. The Blue Mountain Peak 
 lifts its lofty head in this parish fully 7,360 feet above the sea. 
 
 It was on an estate in this parish, belonging to Colonel 
 Bach, named " Garbrand Hall " settled by Lieutenant Hookes 
 Garbrand, of Cromwell's army that John Coad, " the God- 
 fearing carpenter," was srld into slavery for being concerned 
 in the Monmouth rebellion. He and his companions, 77 in all, 
 were, according to Macaulay, such skeletons on their arrival 
 in Jamaica, that " the merchants to whom they had been con- 
 signed found it expedient to fatten them before selling them." 
 This poor Coad established a small church amongst the slaves. 
 
 Morant Bay, the chief town and shipping port, is one of the 
 oldest of the Jamaica townships, and is noted as being the 
 chief scene of the disturbances of 1865, which resulted in the 
 abolition of the old constitution, and the establishment of the 
 present form of government. 
 
 The fine Episcopalian Church in this town was levelled to 
 the ground by the cyclone of August 18th, 1880. The old 
 
128 DESCRIPTION OP JAMAICA. 
 
 church had some beautiful monuments, nearly all of which are 
 now buried under rubbish in the chancel. Among the most 
 interesting of these tablets were those to the memory of 
 Lieutenant Marmaduke Freeman, of Belvedere, who died in 
 1 709, in the reign of Queen Anne ; of the Honorable Anthony 
 Swymmer, who died in 1729 ; and of the wife of Governor 
 William Henry Lytelton. The inscription on the latter stone 
 is as follows : "H. S. S. Reliquice Marice Lytelton, Oulielmi 
 Henrici Lyteltcn ffujus Insulce Prefecti. Uxoris Dilectissimce, 
 A.D. 1765." 
 
 The Wesleyan and Baptist chapels were also destroyed by 
 the cyclone. There are a public general hospital, an alms- 
 house, a police station, a telegraph station, &c., in the town. 
 Seven miles eastward of Morant Bay lies Port Morant, a 
 shipping port of some extent, with a very safe harbour. Mr. 
 Munro (the Munro of " Dickenson & Munro," the founders 
 of the charity of that name) is buried in the churchyard at 
 Port Morant. Bath is a populous village, having a large 
 number of dwellings, a church, a Wesleyan and a Baptist 
 chapel. The streets are skirted by trees, which give a moisture 
 to the atmosphere. A sulphurous hot mineral spring is situated 
 a little above the village. The original botanic garden of the 
 island is in the village itself, and is still maintained for the 
 sake of its valuable trees and palms. The tobacco plantations 
 of Messrs. Thompson and Weitzman are at Potosi, a few miles 
 off. Golden Grove is a collection of stores, established on the 
 estate of that name, for the commerce of the Plantain Garden 
 River district. It has a handsome little Episcopal Church, 
 which is supported by the planters of the neighbourhood. 
 
 The sugar estates in the Plantain Garden River district pre- 
 sent a pretty view when seen from the eminence above them 
 called " Qtiaw Hill." From this point to Port Antonio the 
 whole district was once covered by flourishing sugar estates, 
 but is now utilised as grazing pens. There are now 15 large 
 sugar estates in cultivation in the parish, which produced last 
 crop 2,324 hogsheads of sugar, and 1,411 puncheons of rum. 
 One of the oldest of these is Belvedere, the original proprietor 
 
PARISHES PORTLAND. 129 
 
 of which (Robert Freeman) was the first Speaker of the 
 first House of Assembly. President Cuthbert is buried on 
 this estate. 
 
 In addition to the Dry Eiver and the Falls River, there are 
 two important rivers in St. Thomas, namely, the Yallahs and 
 Morant Bay rivers, which, when swollen by heavy rains, be- 
 come formidable torrents, and are quite uncrossable. It is 
 hoped, however, that the time is not far distant when sub- 
 stantial bridges will be erected over these rivers. The Morant 
 Point Lighthouse stands at the extreme east end of the 
 island in this parish. The population of St. Thomas by the 
 census of 1881 is 33,945 ; 16,819 males, and 17,736 females. 
 
 4. PORTLAND. 
 
 This parish, which is at the north-east end of the island, 
 includes the old parish of St. George and part of St. Thomas, 
 from which it was originally taken in 1723. 
 
 It extends from the sea coast to the highest peak of the 
 Blue Mountains range, and is celebrated for its fertility and 
 the beauty of its scenery. The chief town is Port Antonio, 
 which contains 1,305 inhabitants, and has the two finest and 
 securest harbours in the island, sheltered by a small islet 
 called Navy Island. Vessels of large tonnage can lie along- 
 side the wharves in the western harbour. 
 
 Port Antonio is divided into Upper and Lower Titch field. 
 Upper Titchfield is a peninsula, containing the old military 
 barracks and Fort George, now proposed to be converted into 
 a school under the Titchfield Trust, an alms-house, and the 
 residences of the gentry. Lower Titchfield, or Port Antonio 
 proper, extends along the sea shore, where the stores, wharves, 
 court-house, gaol, &c., are built. The Episcopal Church stands 
 conspicuous at the east end of the town, and is a structure of 
 good size and some architectural beauty. By a proclamation 
 issued by the Governor in 1880, fairs for the sale of stock are 
 appointed to be held in the chief street of the town of Port 
 Antonio on the first Tuesday in Easter week, the first Tuesday 
 after the 1st August, and the first Tuesday after Christmas day. 
 
130 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 The fruit trade, which was started in this parish in the year 
 1868, has made Port Antonio a town of some importance. 
 There are now no less than nine steamers regularly carrying 
 fruit from Port Antonio to different ports in the United 
 States. The fruit exports from Port Antonio received a 
 severe check from the effects of the destructive hurricane of 
 August 18th, 1880. In fact, for six mouths at least the trade 
 may be said to have been at a stand-still ; but the people were 
 not discouraged, and fruit planting has been carried on since 
 the hurricane on a much larger scale than ever before. 
 
 Notwithstanding this fact, the demand for fruit for the 
 American market is still far in excess of the supply, the lovers 
 of the succulent banana like poor Oliver still " asking for 
 more." 
 
 The prices obtained for bananas during the season 1880-81 
 ranged from 10 to .12 10s., and sometimes as high as 13, 
 per hundred bunches. This state of affairs has naturally 
 given rise to several new and important fruit-planting enter- 
 prises. 
 
 Golden Vale, a thrown-up sugar estate of some 5,000 acres 
 in extent, and the Bogue of 1,700 acres, have been purchased 
 by parties in America (represented here by Captain Baker) 
 expressly for the cultivation of bananas and cocoa-nuts ; and 
 lying inland between these two estates is Spring Bank, the 
 property of Mr. J. Eevie MacNab, the principal part of which 
 is devoted to bauana growing. The peasantry are extending 
 their cultivation on every hand, and there can be little doubt 
 that a great future is in store for the fruit trade of this dis- 
 trict of Portland. 
 
 The Maroon Town called Moore Town is nine miles from 
 Port Antonio, on the banks of the Bio Grande, which is the 
 second largest river in the island. 
 
 St. Margaret's Bay is a little fishing village on the west of 
 the Rio Grande ; it contains a substantial Episcopal Church, 
 and carries on an extensive business in fruit. Hope Bay is 
 further west, but on the east of the Swift Eiver. 
 
PARISHES PORTLAND. 131 
 
 This little town contains about 500 inhabitants, with an Epis- 
 copal Church, a Wesleyan chapel, and a constabulary station. 
 
 Buff Bay was the chief town of the old pariah of St. George ; 
 it lies between the Spanish River and the Buff Bay River. 
 This town contains a fine Episcopal Church, a Wesleyan 
 chapel, a Baptist chapel, a court-house, an alms-house, a 
 constabulary station, a telegraph station, &c. 
 
 It is the chief shipping port of the district of St. George. 
 About two miles out of the town, on one side of the Buff Bay 
 River, lies a township of the Maroons called Charles Town, 
 and on the other side of the river is the Government Model 
 School, partly supported by Merrick's charity. 
 
 Manchioneal lies on the north-eastern coast of the island. 
 It is becoming of some importance since the fruit trade has 
 been established. It has a little harbour which could be made 
 safe for vessels visiting the port. The town holds an Episcopal 
 Church, a Wesleyan chapel, a court-house, &c. Its principal 
 exports are bananas and cocoa-nuts. The grazing properties 
 of the pens in the neighbourhood, in fact all along the north- 
 eastern coast, are not much utilised. Sheep would thrive well 
 on them. 
 
 Darlingford, an extensive cocoa-nut plantation belonging to 
 the heirs of the late Sir Charles Darling, Governor of Jamaica, 
 stands around the village of Manchioneal. 
 
 There is at Low Laytou the remains of an extinct vol- 
 cano, 750 feet above sea-level. The Rio Grande, Buff Bay, 
 Spanish, and Swift rivers in this parish, present formidable 
 obstacles to the traveller during the rainy seasons, when they 
 assume the form of foaming torrents, and are quite uncrossable. 
 When the steps contemplated by " the St. Thomas and Port- 
 land Bridges Loan Law " (Law 7 of 1881) have been taken, 
 these obstacles will be removed by the bridging of these rivers, 
 and travelling will become safe and easy throughout the parish. 
 Portland is rich in minerals. Its principal products are coffee, 
 chocolate, bananas, cocoa-nuts, and edible roots of all kinds. 
 The population, according to the census of 1881, is 28,901 
 14 ; 294 males, and 14,607 females. 
 
132 DESCRIPTION OP JAMAICA. 
 
 5. ST. CATHERINE. 
 
 St. Jago de la Vega, or Spanish Town, the old capital of the 
 island, and the chief town of the parish, is connected with 
 Kingston, from which it is twelve miles distant, by a line of 
 railway. It lies on the banks of the Rio Cobre, six miles 
 distant from the sea at Passage Fort and Port Henderson 
 (favourite sea-side resorts), and contained, by the last census, 
 5,689 inhabitaots. The town is laid out with streets at right 
 angles, and, after the Spanish- American manner, there is a 
 square in its centre. In this square stands the former King's 
 House, a very handsome structure, and imposing buildings, 
 formerly used as Legislative Chambers, the Supreme Courts 
 of Justice, &c. These are now converted, for the most part, to 
 the purposes of a training college and master's residences ; 
 the upper portion of the old court-house is, however, partly 
 devoted to the use of the people as a Town Hall. A stage 
 for theatrical representations, neatly fitted up, occupies one 
 end of it. 
 
 The Record Office ^formerly caned the Island Secretary's 
 Office) is still located at the north-eastern side of the square. 
 The two large brass guns captured by Rodney from Comte de 
 Grasse, remain "en garde" before the empty temple which 
 once held the statue of the victorious British admiral. 
 
 The old vice-regal Palace, the scene of so much grandeur 
 in the olden time, will always present an object of interest to 
 visitors, while next to it in this respect is the Cathedral Church 
 dedicated to St. Katherine. It was formerly the Spanish Red 
 Cross Church of St. Peter, and was the only church in the 
 town spared by the Puritans, who used it as a place of worship. 
 Many former governors and their wives, and most of the more 
 eminent of the early settlers of the colony, are interred within 
 the church or in the neighbouring churchyard. 
 
 Jamaica has always been liberal in posthumous honours to 
 her governors, and many fine monuments attest the fact. 
 
 We may briefly mention those to the memory of the Earl 
 of Effinghani and his Countess, Sir Basil Keith, Major-General 
 Selwyn, and the Countess of Elgin. It may not be generally 
 
PARISHES ST. CATHERINE. 133 
 
 known that the base of this monument is formed of a piece of 
 one of the " Elgin Marbles," which was presented by the family. 
 
 The foundations of the old Spanish White Cross Church, 
 and of the convent attached to it, may still be traced in the 
 streets named after it, and those of the last Spanish governor's 
 house still remain. Local tradition points out in the grounds 
 of the infant school the Tamarind Tree, beneath which 
 Colonels Tyson and Raymond were shot for mutiny. The 
 "Eagle House," once surrounded by a moat, lies to the south 
 of the town; it was the residence of the Earl of Inchiquin 
 when governor of Jamaica, but it has passed through many 
 vicissitudes since then, and is now almost in ruins. 
 
 The present town is quite shorn of its former grandeur and 
 importance ; but its municipal institutions are very creditably 
 conducted, and the inhabitants are fairly prosperous. 
 
 The constabulary find a training dep6t in the old military 
 barracks. 
 
 The old Middlesex Gaol is now used as a gaol for that 
 county and the county of Surrey. New markets were opened 
 on the 19th November, 1880, by the Governor, Sir Anthony 
 Musgrave, who named them " The Princes," after the young 
 sons of the Prince of Wales, who shortly before visited the 
 island. 
 
 Besides the Cathedral there are a chapel-of-ease (dedicated 
 to the Trinity), a Roman Catholic, one Wesleyan, and two 
 Baptist chapels. The Training College, to which we have 
 alluded, receives pupils to be trained as schoolmasters ; and in 
 connection with it there are an elementary school and a 
 middle grade school, supported to some extent by the amal- 
 gamated funds of Smith and Beckford's Charity. 
 
 A reading room exists in the town ; it is well supplied 
 with current literature, and is in affiliation with the Colonial 
 Institute. A chess club, with a large membership, is also 
 there. The old racecourse, so long allowed to remain in ruin, 
 has been cleared, and the annual meet is now an established 
 success. The town is amply supplied with pure water from 
 the Rio Cobre ; the streets are cleanly kept ; house rents are 
 
134 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 moderate, and the parochial rate of Is. 9d. in the pound 
 on rentals is the only one levied. The markets are well 
 supplied with butcher's meat, poultry, fish, game, fruit, and 
 vegetables. The climate is dry, the days are not so hot as in 
 Kingston, and the early mornings and nights are delightfully 
 cool. 
 
 The town and neighbourhood are very healthy. There are 
 many grazing pens in the vicinity, remuneratively managed as 
 sheep and cattle farms, and the Salt Pond district is justly 
 celebrated for the flavour of its mutton. In this district 
 (whence its name) there is a large salt pond, from which the 
 delicious fish called " calapiva " is taken in large numbers, and 
 from which the inhabitants of the parish were formerly 
 supplied, at a nominal price, with salt to the extent of 5,000 
 bushels a year. 
 
 The Rio Cobre Canal, which irrigates the St. Catherine 
 plain, has proved a boon to the inhabitants, and rendered 
 profitable the cultivation of bananas, and other fruits and 
 cereals. This cultivation has sprung up of late years on land 
 that had not been utilised within the memory of man, afford- 
 ing a good investment for capital, and remunerative employ- 
 ment for labour. The canal also irrigates the two fine sugar 
 estates, Swing's and Dawkin's Caymanas, lying about five 
 miles from Spanish Town, on the road to Kingston. 
 
 OLD HARBOUR. The traveller by railway from Kingston, 
 via Spanish Town, will get out at the terminus at Old 
 Harbour Market, as it is called, to distinguish it from " the 
 Bay," which is nearly three miles to the south. This district 
 is of historic note. 
 
 The Bay was once a flourishing port under the Spaniards, 
 who named it after their governor, " Esquivel," but it has 
 now dwindled down to a fishing village. 
 
 It has, however, an Episcopal Church, a Baptist chapel, a 
 custom-house, &c., and is the shipping port of the district. 
 It possesses a fine, commodious harbour, studded with little 
 low cays or rocky islets, breaking the waste of water with 
 
PARISHES ST. CATHERINE. 135 
 
 their refreshing greenness. " This noble Bay, when Columbus 
 discovered it, was inhabited by thousands of Indians, the most 
 intelligent and the most civilised of all the aborigines of the 
 Antilles that he had seen. On the largest of these islets, 
 embosomed in the sheltered, lake-like harbour, dwelt the noble- 
 minded Cacique, who proposed to leave his country, and to 
 visit, in the protection of the illustrious world-finder, the 
 distant land of the wondrous strangers, of which he had heard 
 such great reports." (Gosse.) 
 
 The market is a thriving and busy little town, with a fine 
 court-house in the centre of it. There are several large places 
 of business, a public market that is always abundantly supplied 
 with meat, fish, vegetables, &c., a pretty little church, recently 
 erected by the Ludford Charity, a Wesleyan chapel, &c. The 
 old Parish Church stands about a mile from the town ; it was 
 built by the first English settlers, and there is a slab in the 
 aisle which tells that the deceased came to the island with 
 Penn and Venables. Large quantities of coffee and sugar are 
 produced on the mountains of this district. 
 
 The banana and orange trade is taking its stand side by side 
 with the old staple products, and will soon extend to large 
 proportions. 
 
 The orange, especially those from the Red Hills, are superior 
 in flavour and mellowness to most of those seen in the 
 American markets. 
 
 ST. THOMAS-IN-THE-VALE. Leaving Spanish Town by the 
 road which leads to the head works of the Irrigation Canal, 
 we pass into that lovely gorge popularly known as the Bog 
 Walk, and on to the town of Linstead. The Bog Walk is one 
 of the finest sights in the island. "A torrent gushing in 
 misty depth, and fighting its downward course among scattered 
 rocks ; the narrowness of the long ravine or den through which 
 it rushes, and the steepness and loftiness of the precipices on 
 either side, with the richness and variety of tropical vegetation, 
 growing in all the exuberance of its foliage, on every spot 
 where a plant can rest these features unite in imparting to 
 
136 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 the scene all the imposing effect of blending beauty and 
 grandeur." (Dr. King's Jamaica.) Linstead is situated in 
 the centre of an almost circular hollow, shut in by mountains. 
 The approach to it from Mount Diablo is very beautiful. The 
 parish church lies outside the town, on the south side, while 
 the Baptist chapel at Jericho lies on the north side. The 
 court-house, Wesleyan chapel, &c., are in the town. Linstead 
 is a thriving place, and is rising daily in importance : con- 
 siderable business is transacted by the shopkeepers there, a 
 large quantity of produce being brought for sale by the small 
 settlers from the neighbouring mountains. 
 
 The projected railway extension to this town will more 
 fully develop the great resources of the surrounding country, 
 and will render Liustead one of the richest and most im- 
 portant trading centres in Jamaica. 
 
 In the meantime, the connection with the mail-coach running 
 between Kingston and St. Ann's Bay must prove of great 
 utility and convenience. The chief products of the district 
 are sugar, coffee, cocoa, ginger, bananas, and oranges. 
 
 6. ST. MARY. 
 
 This parish, which now includes the late parish of Metcalfe, 
 is a very important one, containing 39,696 inhabitants. The 
 chief town and shipping port is Port Maria, or, as the Spaniards 
 called it, Puerto Sancta Maria. 
 
 The town of Port Maria contains a church, a kirk, a Baptist 
 chapel, a court-house, prison, &c. There are a few fine stores 
 and wharves. 
 
 Another town of the parish is Annotto Bay, situated at the 
 mouth of the Wag Water River (a corruption of Agualta.) 
 Annotto Bay is approached from Kingston, a distance of 30 
 miles, by what is known as the New Junction Eoad. This town 
 is divided by three rivers running through it. It is a shipping 
 port, and contains a fine large church at the eastern entrance, 
 or upper town, as well as an hospital ; and in the lower 
 town stand the court-house, Baptist chapel, Wesleyan chapel, 
 &c. On account of the rivers, which create swamps in the 
 
PARISHES CLARENDON. 137 
 
 neighbourhood at certain seasons of the year, the town becomes 
 unhealthy, but the inhabitants, on the whole, generally enjoy 
 tolerably fair health. 
 
 In the interior of the district is a Maroon township called 
 Scott's Hall. 
 
 The chief rivers of the parish are the Wag Water, White 
 River, Annotto Eiver, and Rio Nuevo. Exactly 19 miles on 
 the junction road from Kingston to Annotto Bay, and near the 
 left bank of the Wag Water, is the botanical garden at 
 Castleton, which travellers should always call to see. In 
 addition to Port Maria and Annotto Bay, the shipping ports 
 are Oracabessa and Rio Nuevo Bay, of which the former 
 is fast rising into importance, in view of the quantity of 
 bananas and other fruits shipped there. It was near Rio 
 Nuevo Bay that the last Spanish governor built a fort, of 
 of which he held possession when driven from St. Jago de la 
 Vega by Penn and Venables. 
 
 Sugar, rum, coffee, pimento, and bananas are the chief 
 exports of the parish. 
 
 7. CLARENDON. 
 
 This parish is rich in mineral resources, and abounds with 
 rivers and streams at every turn. The main drain of the 
 parish is the Rio Minho, or, as it is called in the lowlands, the 
 " Dry River," over which, at May Penn, is one of the finest 
 bridges in the island, erected during Sir John Peter Grant's 
 administration. In the dry season the water sinks into the 
 earth but in rainy seasons it flows with formidable power. 
 
 The most considerable town is Chapelton, with a population 
 of 654 inhabitants, although, by an Act of the Legislature, 
 the court and public offices are held at May Penu, in the low- 
 lands, which is merely a collection of Government buildings. 
 Chapelton is situated in the interior of the parish, and is, com- 
 mercially speaking, in a thriving condition. In it are the 
 parish church, a London missionary chapel, kirk, court-house, 
 constabulary station, public general hospital, and many fine 
 large stores. A brisk trade in produce is carried on in this town. 
 
138 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Four Paths is a village in the plains not far from May Penn, 
 on the road from Mandeville, and near the line of the rail- 
 way now in contemplation. There is here a chapel belonging 
 to the London Missionary Society. The Alley, which was 
 once the capital of Vere (a parish since incorporated with 
 Clarendon) is a small town by the banks of the Eio Minho. 
 It contains a venerable church, a court-house, &c. The 
 proximity of sugar estates to this town renders it of some 
 importance. 
 
 Carlisle Bay and Milk Eiver are the shipping ports of this 
 parish. The Milk Eiver baths, situate near the township of 
 that name, are warm springs that are very beneficial in chronic 
 rheumatism and other similar diseases. It was at Carlisle 
 Bay that the colonial militia met the French, under Du Casse, 
 and, after three days 7 gallant resistance, drove them to their 
 ships with a loss of 700 men. 
 
 The invaders had already, for nearly a month, plundered 
 and destroyed the sea-side plantations, and murdered and 
 kidnapped the gentry and their slaves. Bridges states that 
 " this was the most formidable attack which was ever made 
 upon the shores of Jamaica." 
 
 This parish has been benefited to a very great extent by 
 the recent opening up of a main road from Chapelton to Cave 
 Valley Estate, in the parish of St. Ann, by which a saving of 
 over 30 miles is afforded in travelling between the Dry Har- 
 bour mountain district of St. Anne, and the south-western 
 part of the island. The Milk Eiver, which has always been 
 navigable for small droghers and for lighters, to convey 
 produce, &c., from the wharves three or four miles up the 
 stream, to the ships which anchor out to sea about two miles 
 from the mouth of the river, has recently become choked up 
 by the action of the sea, and at present the boats from the 
 wharves have to discharge their freight on the beach, which 
 freight has then to be transferred to other boats in the sea 
 to be taken to the ships. So long as this hindrance to the 
 easy carriage of goods from the wharves to the ships con- 
 tinues, the progress of the rising village of the "Eest," in the ini- 
 
PARISHES ST. ANN. 139 
 
 mediate neighbourhood of these wharves, will be materially 
 retarded ; and great inconvenience must result to the estates 
 in that part of the parish, and to the small settlers in the 
 south of the parish of Manchester, who have hitherto made 
 use of this port for shipping their produce. The chief 
 productions of this parish are sugar, rum, and coffee ; logwood, 
 fustic, and other woods; and a special feature in it is the 
 number of small sugar mills owned by the peasantry. These 
 numbered 989 in 1880; (of these, 162 by manual pressure, 
 1 by water power, and 826 by horse power.) 
 
 Attention has been also directed to the cultivation of ban- 
 anas and cocoa. Cinchona would do well on the hills, in the 
 upper part of Clarendon. 
 
 A very fine tobacco plantation exists at Morgan's Valley, 
 near Chapelton, once the property of Sir Henry Morgan, who 
 settled it, and called it after his own name ; and the article is 
 being extensively planted by Cubans in other parts of the 
 parish. 
 
 8. ST. ANN. 
 
 Passing from the village of Linstead, in St. Catherine, 
 through Ewarton, the contemplated terminus of one branch 
 of the railway extensions, and over Mount Diablo, the beauti- 
 ful parish of St. Ann is entered. 
 
 St. Ann is bounded on the west by the Bio Bueno River, 
 which separates it from Trelawny ; on the north by the sea, 
 and on the south by the parishes of Clarendon and St. 
 Catherine. The area is about 464 square miles ; the popula- 
 tion (by the census of 1881) is 46,584. 
 
 The land rises on a gradual ascent from the coast, assuming 
 a more or less hilly surface as it advances inland ; the hills are 
 of limestone formation, and caverns, some of which are very 
 extensive, occur in several places. " Earth has nothing more 
 lovely than the pastures and pimento groves of St. Ann ; 
 nothing more enchanting than its hills and vales, delicious in 
 verdure, and redolent with the fragrance of spices. Embellished 
 with wood and water from the deep forest from whence the 
 
 K 
 
140 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 streams descend to the ocean in falls, the blue haze of the air 
 blends and harmonises all into beauty." (Hill's Lights and 
 Shadows of Jamaica History.) 
 
 The climate is salubrious, the roads are good, and the 
 peasantry are well conducted, and compare favourably in this 
 and other respects with those of any part of the island. 
 
 There are six Episcopalian churches, ten Wesley an Metho- 
 dist chapels, nine Baptist, two Presbyterian, one Independent, 
 and one Koman Catholic chapel in the parish. A mail-coach 
 commenced to run on the 31st October 1881, between Kingston 
 and St. Ann's Bay, calling at Linstead, E war ton, Moneague, 
 and Claremont. This coach carries five passengers and parcels. 
 The through fare between Kingston and St. Ann's Bay is 25s. ; 
 and the rate for parcels, which are not to exceed 10 Ibs., is 
 3d. a /pound. 
 
 The first township reached is the Moneague, which contains 
 a few stores and an inn. In the vicinity a large fresh water 
 lake has recently formed, and is well worthy the notice of 
 sightseers. A little beyond Moneague is Walton, where the 
 Jamaica High School, now removed to St. Andrew, used to be 
 kept. The grazing pens of the parish, especially in this 
 district, are as fine as are to be seen in any part of the world. 
 
 The racing stock is celebrated for speed and endurance. 
 The cattle, for weight and quality of meat, are much sought 
 after in the island markets. 
 
 St. Ann's Bay is the chief town, and is one of importance. 
 Not more than a mile from this town is the site of the first 
 capital of the island, " Sevilla Nueva," or " Seville d'Oro," as 
 it was afterwards called. It was, history tells us, a place of 
 some opulence and magnificence. Among the other costly 
 edifices were a monastery, a cathedral the pavement of which 
 extended to a distance of two miles a theatre, and many 
 palaces and other noble buildings. 
 
 But Seville did not long continue the capital, having been 
 abandoned for St. Jago de la Vega. Some say that this was 
 owing to " the Spanish inhabitants of Seville having, in their 
 wars with the natives, been suddenly and entirely cut off ;" 
 
PARISHES ST. ANN. 141 
 
 and others assign the desertion to "a visitation of innumerable 
 ants, that destroyed all their provision grounds," and com- 
 pelled them to find a new home elsewhere. Bridges, however, 
 attributes the abandonment to the depredations of the French 
 filibusters, and states that "the northern coast of Jamaica 
 afforded frequent spoils to this bold band of corsairs." 
 
 Much business is done in St. Ann's Bay ; there are several 
 fine stores and wharves, a pretty Episcopalian church, a 
 Wesley an chapel, court-house, post-office, telegraph station, 
 &c., &c. 
 
 To the eastward of St. Ann's Bay, at Drax Hall Estate, 
 there is a narrow cove, described on our maps as Don 
 Christopher's Cove, where Columbus is supposed to have 
 stranded his sinking vessels, but this is incorrect. Ferdinand, 
 Columbus's son and companion on the voyage, records that on 
 "Midsummer eve the water gained on us, and came up 
 almost to our decks. With infinite labour we held on till 
 day, when we put into a harbour on the north side of Jamaica, 
 called Puerto Bueno (Dry Harbour), which, though good to 
 take shelter in against a storm, had no fresh water, nor any 
 Indian town in its neighbourhood. Having made the best 
 shift we could, we removed the next day after the festival of 
 St. John from that harbour to one further eastward, called 
 Santa Gloria, which is enclosed by rocks ; we stranded the 
 vessels close together, board and board, shoring them up on 
 both sides to prevent their falling over." The spot, therefore, 
 is to the westward, and not eastward, of St. Ann's Bay, in 
 front of the place known as the Priory Village. 
 
 The pretty little town of Ocho Rios, which contains a 
 church, chapels, &c., lies about seven miles east of St. Ann's 
 Bay ; and the ride along the " river road," as it is called, is one 
 of the most charming in the island. No one who has visited 
 the cascades of the White River and of the Roaring River, 
 with the intermediate waterfalls of Ocho Rios, can forget the 
 scenery. Near this town is Shaw Park Estate, where Don 
 Sasi, the last of the Spanish governors, had pitched his tent 
 when he was found out and pursued by the British troops. 
 
142 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 He subsequently escaped in a canoe to Cuba, from a spot 
 about nine miles from St. Ann's Bay, which has since been 
 known as Eunaway Bay. 
 
 Brown's Town is the largest of the rural townships of St. 
 Ann, and is situated in the western interior part of the 
 parish ; it contains an Episcopal church, a Wesleyan chapel, 
 a Baptist chapel, a court-house, &c. It is a thriving place, 
 a good produce trade is carried on in it. 
 
 Dry Harbour is a town worthy of note ; it was there 
 Columbus landed and took formal possession of the island. 
 It has a fine horseshoe-like harbour. The chief products of 
 this parish are sugar and rum, pimento and coffee. 
 
 9. MANCHESTER. 
 
 Mandeville is the chief town of Manchester, and is one of 
 the prettiest little towns in the island. Its situation on the top 
 of a mountain is very picturesque. The tidiness and cleanli- 
 ness in which the buildings are kept make it evident that the 
 inhabitants know the value of paint and lime-wash. Man- 
 deville contains a church, a Wesleyan chapel, a chapel belong- 
 ing to the London Missionary Society, a Baptist chapel, a free 
 school, a court-house, a constabulary station, a district prison, 
 and a parochial hospital. The town is supplied with water 
 from public tanks, the parish being dependent on the rainfall 
 for its water supply. 
 
 A mail coach now runs between Old Harbour and Mande- 
 ville, capable of carrying, besides the mails, three passengers, 
 as well as parcels. It leaves Old Harbour on Monday, Wed- 
 nesday, and Friday of each week, on arrival of the train 
 which leaves Kingston at 10-30 A.M., and is timed to arrive 
 at Maude ville at 5-45 P.M. It leaves Mandeville for Old 
 Harbour on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9-30 A.M., 
 to connect with the train which leaves the latter place at 4 P.M. 
 
 Very comfortable accommodation is to be found at Miss 
 Hoy's lodgings in the town, as well as at Brook's Hotel, a well 
 conducted establishment. 
 
PARISHES ST. ELIZABETH. 143 
 
 Porus is a very populous village, where a brisk traffic is 
 carried on ; it contains an Episcopal church, a Baptist chapel, 
 and a fine chapel of the London Missionary Society, a con- 
 stabulary station, &c. 
 
 At this town will be the terminal station of one branch of 
 the railway extensions. Building lots are being bought at 
 ,25 the quarter acre. 
 
 There are other villages in Manchester, such as Newport, 
 Victoria Town, &c., but they are not of much commercial 
 importance. The parish is abundantly supplied with good 
 schools for the peasantry ; it has also two Normal Moravian 
 Training Colleges for male and female teachers. Grazing 
 pens are numerous, on which fine cattle and blood horses are 
 largely reared. Coffee and pimento are the chief staples, but 
 ginger is cultivated to some extent. The Manchester orange 
 has obtained a name in the American markets for its size and 
 flavour, and is exported to a considerable extent. Cinchona 
 succirubra has been successfully established for several years, 
 by the Eev. Mr. Swaby, at Mount Olivet, in the Mile Gully 
 Mountains, at an elevation of 2,700 feet. There are a few 
 healthy trees of the same variety in cultivation close to Man- 
 deville, at a height of 2,100. These instances would tend to 
 shew that the elevation and climate of the Manchester moun- 
 tains are favourable to the growth of cinchona succirubra. 
 Several gentlemen owning property in the mountains are 
 now entering upon its cultivation. The population of the 
 parish of Manchester, according to the census of last year, 
 was 48,45823,622 being males, and 24,836 females. 
 
 10. ST. ELIZABETH. 
 
 This large and important parish comprises 301,440 acres, 
 contains 54,375 inhabitants, and is more diversified by moun- 
 tains and plains than any other in the island. The largest 
 river in Jamaica runs through its extensive plains for over 
 44 miles, and is navigable for some 30 miles for boats, 
 which take the produce to the wharves that are built at its 
 
144 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 mouth. The town Black River takes its name from the 
 river, and stands on the west side of the river, facing the 
 bay. It has a population of 1,279, and, as a shipping port, 
 ranks third after Kingston. The town contains a fine parish 
 church and a Wesleyan chapel, a court-house of some archi- 
 tectural pretensions, a short term prison, a public general 
 hospital, and a market, which is well supplied with poultry a 
 ground provisions, &c. 
 
 The bay forms a beautiful crescent, extending from Parotee 
 Point to the eastern horn of Luana Point on the west. The 
 port is called Gravesend. 
 
 Towns and villages are interspersed throughout the parish, 
 the chief of which are Lacovia, Santa Cruz, Balaclava, Alver- 
 stoke, Newport, &c. 
 
 At Balaclava, which is a very nourishing little village, a 
 market is held, which is largely attended. There is a 
 Maroon township in the northern interior of the parish, 
 known as " Accompong." 
 
 This parish, from its diversity of soil and climate, produces 
 almost everything tropical. Sugar, rum, coffee, pimento, 
 logwood, giuger, and tobacco are its chief productions. There 
 are some very large and fine grazing pens in St. Elizabeth, and 
 the breed of horses and cattle is much prized. 
 
 The Santa Cruz Mountains, which run parallel to the 
 Manchester Mountains, and form a distinctly separate range, 
 extending from north to south, are said to possess the 
 healthiest climate in all Jamaica, the thermometer seldom 
 rising beyond 75 in the hottest months of the year. The 
 southern extremity of this range rises rather abruptly from 
 the sea, with a height of 1,500 feet, until it reaches 3,000 feet. 
 A continual breeze blowing over it night and day renders the 
 climate dry and delightfully cool even in the warmest months. 
 The "Lover's Leap" on these mountains, the cave at Peru, and 
 the falls at Y. S. Estate, are a few of the natural curiosities of 
 the parish. The Boys' Grammar School of "Munro and 
 Dickenson's Charity " is kept at Potsdam, and the Girls' School 
 at Mount Zion. 
 
PAHISHES TRELAWNY. 145 
 
 11. TRELAWNY. 
 
 The parish of Trelawny is situated on the north-east border 
 of the county of Cornwall, and is one of the best sugar- 
 producing parishes of the island. Many of the sugar estates 
 are still in a high state of cultivation. The area of this 
 parish is 332 J square miles, with a population of 32,115. 
 
 The neat and well laid out town of Falmouth is its capital, 
 with a population of 3,029 ; it is built on a low flat piece of 
 land on the western shore of the Martha Brae harbour. It 
 is a town of much commercial importance ; its main street, 
 called Market Street, is very wide, and would set off many a 
 country town in the mother country. The town contains 
 many fine churches, chapels, and public buildings ; amongst 
 the former the principal are the parish church, kirk, Wes- 
 leyan chapel, and a commodious Baptist chapel built by the 
 late William Knibb. 
 
 The court-house is a massive building, erected by the sea- 
 side, and contains a tine room, in which hang full length 
 pictures of General Sir John Kean, at one time Lieutenant- 
 Go vernor of Jamaica, and of Sir Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 
 one of Jamaica's most popular Governors. 
 
 About half a mile to the west of the court-house stand the 
 barracks, and Fort Balcarres, in which the constabulary are at 
 present located; and about a gun-shot to leeward of the 
 barracks are the marine hospital and the district prison. The 
 town is sometimes hot and unhealthy, but the prevailing sea- 
 breeze renders it generally pleasant to live in. 
 
 The streets are always clean and in repair. The town is 
 supplied with water from the Martha Brae River, which is 
 conveyed to a reservoir built in the Market Square, whence 
 the inhabitants are supplied by pipes laid down to their houses, 
 or by carriers employed for the purpose. There is a telegraph 
 station in the town. 
 
 Besides the town of Falmouth, there are several others in 
 the parish, of which the chief are Stewart Town, in the in- 
 terior, five miles west of Brown's Town, in St. Ann ; Rio 
 Bueno, on the sea-coast eastward, on the road to St. Ann's 
 
146 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Bay ; and Duncans, between Eio Bueno and Falmouth. At 
 this latter place (Duncans) a well has recently been dug at con- 
 siderable expense ; but, unfortunately, the benefits intended 
 to be conferred on the district by this well have not yet been 
 developed. Clark's Town, the Bock, and Salt Marsh, are 
 villages in its immediate neighbourhood. 
 
 Stewart Town, with about 200 inhabitants, lies on the grand 
 interior road from Claremont to Falmouth, and is of some im- 
 portance. It contains a neat Episcopal church, and large 
 Baptist and Wesleyan chapels. A brisk trade is carried on in 
 produce from the interior of this and the neighbouring parishes. 
 
 Kio Bueno is an old seaport town, somewhat decayed. It 
 has an Episcopal church and other public buildings. Salt 
 Marsh and the Rock are shipping ports. 
 
 Martha Brae, one and a half miles inland, was the site of 
 the old Spanish settlement of Melilla, but it was abandoned 
 almost as soon as built, owing to the depredations of the 
 French filibusters. 
 
 Anyone going into this parish should go to see the cave at 
 Spring Garden ; it is a natural curiosity, and will well repay 
 a visit. 
 
 Sugar, rum, pimento, coffee, and ginger are produced in the 
 parish. The town of Falmouth depends on Portland and 
 Hanover for its vegetable food supply during the greater part 
 of the year. 
 
 12. ST. JAMES. 
 
 This is one of the smaller parishes of the island. Its extent 
 is 227f square miles, equal to an acreage of 145,260 acres. The 
 population, by the census of 1881, was 33,625, as compared 
 with 29,340 in 1871, shewing an increase in population of 
 4,285 in the 10 years. The chief productions of the parish are 
 sugar, rum, coffee, pimento, and bananas. 
 
 There are 28 sugar estates now in cultivation, on which 
 2,402 hogsheads of sugar, and 1,588 puncheons of rum were 
 produced last year. The number of acres of land under culti- 
 vation is as follows : 3,221 in sugar canes, 3,429 in provisions, 
 
PAEISHES ST. JAMES. 147 
 
 217 in coffee, 40 in ginger, and 3,743 in guinea grass ; whilst 
 various kinds of fruit trees, pimento and dye woods, grow in 
 the common pasture lands. There are about 24 large pens for 
 raising cattle, and the live stock on these may be set down at 
 3,750 cattle and horse-kind, and 500 sheep ; whilst that on the 
 sugar estates is about 3,900 cattle, and 100 horses and mules. 
 The parish is comparatively fortunate as to main roads, having 
 not only the usual coast main road, but also two branches 
 from it one turning a mile to the south of Montego Bay, and 
 crossing the parish to Trelawny ; the other turning four miles 
 off the coast road from Montego Bay, passing through the 
 interior of the parish, through St. Elizabeth and Manchester, 
 on to Kingston. 
 
 Tourists from Kingston may thus conveniently pass through 
 Spanish Town, Linstead, Moneague, and then go either the 
 interior road by Brown's Town, Stewart Town, Clark's Town, 
 on to Falmouth, or keep a direct course through Ocho Eios, 
 St. Ann's Bay, Dry Harbour, Rio Bueno, Duncans, and on to 
 Falmouth, and thence to Montego Bay, returning to Kingston 
 by way of St. Elizabeth and Manchester. 
 
 The parochial first-class roads are improving ; they are all 
 well bridged over, but the growing fruit and minor products 
 trades call for an extension of these first-class roads, and an 
 improvement in the minor roads which feed them. A thrown- 
 up sugar estate, about 7,000 acres in extent, the property of 
 the Howard de Walden family, is now, through the energetic 
 action of a member of the family, the Honourable Henry 
 Ellis, being utilised as a pen, and being gradually stocked. 
 
 Some splendid Brahmin bulls and cows have been imported 
 from India, which are doing well ; these cattle are said to be 
 better adapted for sugar estate work than any other breed. 
 Shorthorns have also been imported. 
 
 This property adjoins another fine grazing pen, named 
 Shuttlewood, belonging to the same family. 
 
 Montego Bay, which is the chief town of St. James, is the 
 second town of importance in the island in respect to size, 
 population, and commerce. The population, by the census of 
 
148 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 last year was 4,651. The sanitary condition of the town is 
 good. It was much improved last year by the filling up of 
 the swamp adjoining the Creek, which had been a nuisance of 
 long standing. 
 
 A new street has been made across the swamp, connecting 
 Church Street and Creek Street. A large and handsome 
 market was opened in the town last year, which affords great 
 accommodation to the inhabitants. 
 
 The enterprising firm of Messrs. J. E. Kerr & Co. have 
 given a great impetus to trade generally, by establishing 
 regular communication with the United States by means of 
 their steamers, the "Pomona" and the "Edith Godden" 
 A building society has recently been established, and the 
 improved appearance of many of the buildings of the town 
 indicates the good work being done by the society. A brisk 
 export cattle trade has also been established, and is being 
 rapidly developed. The regular monthly visits to Montego 
 Bay of the steamers of White's, Anderson's, and Scrutton's 
 lines, and the call of the coasting steamer, are a great 
 convenience and aid to trade. 
 
 The increasing fruit trade has not only made valuable a 
 large extent of what was considered almost useless property, 
 but has also given employment to a class of persons who were 
 badly in want of it. 
 
 The values of the fruit and cattle exports from Montego 
 Bay during the past year were, respectively, ,11,498 17s. 6d. 
 and 6,467, as compared with 1,993 and 2,858 respectively 
 in the previous year. The increase in the case of fruit was 
 caused by the increased demand from the traders to the 
 windward side of the island, where the fruit was very much 
 iujured by the cyclone ; and in the case of cattle by the large 
 demand from Cuba for breeding and young stock. This 
 latter want has nearly been satisfied, and it is expected that 
 there will be a diminution of the trade in this special 
 direction. 
 
 The Courts of Justice are held with regularity, and the 
 people are orderly and well conducted. There are several 
 
PARISHES HANOVER. 149 
 
 lodging houses in Moutego Bay, a magazine club, and a bath- 
 house, which unites sea and fresh- water baths. The market 
 is well supplied with meat, fish, and vegetables. Montego 
 Bay was called "Manteca Bay" by the Spaniards, from its 
 being the great emporium for lard. Sir Hans Sloane states 
 that the boiling of swine's flesh into lard constituted the early 
 commerce of the place. The chief buildings in the town are 
 the court-house, parish church, Trinity chapel, Wesleyan 
 chapel, kirk, two Baptist chapels, custom-house, and the old 
 barracks now the constabulary station. The parish church 
 contains some fine monuments, amongst which is one by 
 Bacon to the memory of Mrs. Palmer, of Eose Hall Estate, of 
 whom tradition has said so much. 
 
 13. HANOVER. 
 
 This parish contains 166 square miles, about as many as the 
 island of Barbados : it extends for 47 miles along the north- 
 western shore of the island, and is separated from the parish 
 of St. James by the Great .River. 
 
 There are about 54 miles of main roads in the parish, and 
 220 miles of parochial roads. The population by the last 
 census was 29,567, and the town of Lucea contains 1,702 in- 
 habitants. There are 19 sugar estates in this parish, on 
 which about 1,900 hogsheads of sugar, and 1,080 puncheons 
 of rum were produced last crop ; and 40 grazing pens in the 
 parish were stocked on the 1st August, 1881, with 7,557 cattle 
 and horsekind. Among the most valuable and beautiful of 
 these fine cattle farms is Knockalva, a celebrated pen be- 
 longing to the Malcolm family. This fine property is be- 
 tween 4,000 and 5,000 acres in extent, and is generally stocked 
 with over 1,000 head of horned cattle, horses, and mules. A 
 traveller who visited the property in 1866 stated, in a work 
 written by him, that " the manager had introduced the Here- 
 ford breed, and showed him grass-fed oxen of fine form and 
 enormous size, which would attract admiration and possibly 
 carry off prizes at the great English cattle-shows." 
 
150 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 Shuttle wood, Ramble, Haughton Grove, Burnt Ground and 
 Cacoon Castle, are also excellent breeding pens. 
 
 The peasantry, who are generally well-to-do, are chiefly en- 
 gaged in planting ground provisions, with which the markets 
 of the neighbouring parishes of Westmoreland, St. James, and 
 Trelawny, as well as Kingston, are supplied. The Lucea yam 
 enjoys a great reputation. Tobacco, ginger, coffee, arrowroot, 
 and sugar, are also produced by the peasantry in goodly quan- 
 tities, and special attention is paid to the rearing of pigs. 
 
 By the last returns fully 3,000 acres were under cultivation, 
 exclusive of sugar estates and grazing pens ; and 1,450 head 
 of horsekind are returned in the parish, exclusive of those on 
 estates and pens. 
 
 The parish is well watered and very mountainous, the high- 
 est elevation being the Dolphin Head, some 2,000 feet above 
 the sea level, affording a good land-mark for mariners. 
 
 Lucea, the chief town, is very pretty. The harbour is one 
 of the finest in the island ; it is about a mile in length, and 
 varies from about a mile to three-quarters of a mile in width, 
 being in the form of a horse-shoe. One hundred sail or more 
 of merchant ships may lie in the harbour, secure from all winds. 
 The mountains rise abruptly to the south-east of the town. 
 
 The principal buildings are the parish church, a handsome 
 court-house, Wesleyan and Baptist chapels, the kirk, Rusea's 
 Free School, &c. Fort Charlotte, which was built for the 
 defence of the harbour, stands on the peninsula that overlooks 
 the channel : it is now the constabulary station. 
 
 Hanover contains, besides the town of Lucea, that of Green 
 Island, a shipping port lying to the west, in which are an 
 Episcopal church, a kirk, and a Baptist chapel. 
 
 14. WESTMORELAND. 
 
 The parish is well watered by numerous rivers and streams, 
 the principal of which are Cabaritta, Roaring River, King's 
 Valley, Spring Garden, Negril, Sweet River, Bluefield, Robins, 
 and Smith field. The Cabaritta is navigable for boats of about 
 8 tons for some twelve miles from the mouth. 
 
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 151 
 
 The area of the parish is 309 square miles ; and the popu- 
 lation by the last census 49,035 males, 24,549 ; and females, 
 24,486. 
 
 Savanna-la-Mar, the chief town, with a population of 2,498, 
 is one of the most important towns in the island in regard to 
 the extent of its commerce. Its chief public buildings are 
 the parish church, the Wesleyan and Baptist chapels, the 
 court-house, &c., &c., and Manning's Free School, just outside 
 the town. There are several fine stores at the shore-end of 
 Great George Street. The sad fate of Sav-la-Mar, in the hur- 
 ricane of 1744, can never be remembered without horror : 
 
 "The sea, bursting its ancient limits, overwhelmed that 
 unhappy town, and swept it to instant destruction, leaving not 
 a vestage of man, beast, or habitation behind. So sudden and 
 comprehensive was the stroke," says Bryan Edwards, "that I 
 think the catastrophe of Sav-la-Mar was even more terrible, in 
 many respects, than that of Port Royal." 
 
 Besides Sav-la-Mar there are Bluefield, Parker's Bay, and 
 Scott's Cove, as shipping places and small townships. Blue- 
 fields was the site of the Spanish town of Oristan, and was 
 for some time the residence of Gosse the naturalist. The 
 *' Spanish road from Bluefields' Bay to Martha Brae, by the 
 head of the Great River," as Long wrote, is still in exist- 
 ence. 
 
 The chief productions of this important parish are sugar, 
 rum, logwood, pimento, coffee, ginger, &c. There are 25 sugar 
 estates in Westmoreland, and some very well-kept grazing 
 pens. The stock on the latter are not to be surpassed by any 
 in the island for beauty, size, and pedigree. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, &c. 
 
 In addition to what has been already stated, it may be well 
 to give a general idea of the system of Government aid in 
 regard to Elementary Schools instituted in 1867. Standards of 
 school management, carefully defined and graded, are pub- 
 
152 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 lished for circulation among the schools. They treat on the 
 following subjects : 
 
 Reading 
 
 Writing from Dictation ^ Chief subjects. 
 
 Arithmetic 
 
 Scripture Knowledge 
 
 General Knowledge 
 
 Grammar and Composition 
 
 Geography and History 
 
 Handwriting 
 
 Secondary subjects. 
 
 Singing 
 Organization 
 Discipline 
 
 These are divided into six grades, with corresponding 
 numbers as Little, 1 ; Moderate, 2 ; Fair, 3 ; Good, 4 ; Very 
 Good, 5 ; Excellent, 6. But in the three chief subjects the 
 numbers or marks are doubled. 
 
 The schools are ranked in three classes, according to the 
 number of marks annually awarded, thus : 
 
 With 8 marks in each chief subject, and 56 in all First class. 
 With 6 marks in each chief subject, and 42 in all Second 
 
 class. 
 With 4 marks in each chief subject, and 28 in all Third 
 
 class. 
 
 Schools examined for the first time, and which may fall 
 short of the lowest standard, may be regarded as exceptional, 
 and recommended for aid at half the third class rate, if they 
 obtain 24 marks at least, and have an average attendance of 
 20 pupils. 
 Grants are made on CLASS and CAPITATION. 
 
 1st 2nd 3rd Excep- 
 
 Class. Class. Class. tional. 
 
 Class, per mark ... 8/-. 7/-. 6/-. 3/-. 
 
 Average Attendance, per 
 
 capitation 6/-. 5/-. 4/-. 2/-. 
 
 With 3/- per capitation on the average number of girls 
 attending the sewing class. 
 
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 
 
 153 
 
 Annual grants are also made to first class schools for the 
 training of one, two, or three pupil teachers, who shall per- 
 sonally pass a satisfactory examination in accordance with the 
 Government regulations relating thereto. The following are 
 the rates per annum : 
 
 To each Pupil Teacher. 
 
 To the Teacher for instructing them. 
 
 For one in 
 the same 
 School. 
 
 For two. 
 
 For three. 
 
 1st year ... 4 \ 
 2nd ... 5 [ 
 3rd ... 6 ) 
 
 300 
 
 each year. 
 
 400 
 
 600 
 
 No pupil teachers are retained on the Government list longer 
 than three years. After that period they are supposed to go 
 to the training colleges, or engage in school in work as teachers. 
 The sum of ,1,500 is annually distributed for the special pur- 
 pose of aiding in the repairs and erection of schools, in accord- 
 ance with definite regulations. 
 
 In 1872, the fifth year of operation of the Educational Code, 
 there were 38,006 on the books of Elementary Schools that 
 received grants to the amount of 9,897 ; 2,282 in attendance 
 on Schools not receiving aid ; 237 in three model schools ; 
 1,704 in the endowed establishments ; and about 3,822 in 
 private seminaries, making a total of 46,051 children attending 
 school ; while there were 82,773 between the ages of 5 and 15 
 years not attending. 
 
 Sir John Peter Grant, in reporting for the last time on 
 education in Jamaica, wrote thus to the Secretary of State : 
 " It will be seen that still only one-third " [plus] " of the 
 children in the colony are at school. This shows how much 
 remains to be done here in the cause of education ; but I am 
 convinced that the growth of the system of elementary educa- 
 tion, since the introduction of the new scheme, has been as 
 rapid as is consistent with healthy growth, such as we now 
 
154 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 see. It is not the mere increase of schools, but still more the 
 increase of good schools, for which educationists here deserve 
 praise." 
 
 Commenting on the progress of popular education in Ja- 
 maica, Mr. J. A. Savage, the late inspector of schools, who 
 devised the scheme, remarked in his annual report for 1879, 
 which was the last submitted by him to the Government : 
 " That there has been a steadily progressive work going on in 
 our schools of late years cannot be denied, for this fact has 
 been plainly evident to all who have taken the trouble to 
 watch, from year to year, the advancing strides slow, it may 
 be, but sure that elementary education has been making 
 throughout the colony, notwithstanding all the hindrances 
 that managers, teachers, and the friends of education have had 
 to contend with. Moreover, the work of the schools is now 
 beginning, unmistakably, to show itself upon society at large, 
 in the increased intelligence that appears among the working 
 classes everywhere, and the ability to read and write, which is 
 so much more common now than it used to be formerly. The 
 fruits of long years of patient toil in the schools are at length 
 becoming manifest, in the better informed young people who 
 are leaving the schools to take their places in the fields, the 
 workshops, and in the formation of new family circles." 
 
 Now, in 1882, there are 627 elementary schools on the 
 Government list (with 53,336 children enrolled), in receipt of 
 16,725, exclusive of grants for buildings. The total number 
 attending all the schools in the colony (from 5 to 15 years old) 
 was 67,402, and the number not attending was 135,365, so 
 that the percentage attending school in 1882 was rather lower 
 than in 1870, being nearly one- third the total number. 
 
 For twelve years, then, since the Government scheme for 
 promoting the elementary education of the youug has been in 
 full operation, only one-third of the children of schoolable 
 age have been brought under instruction ; while two-thirds 
 of the number have been growing up in ignorance and 
 insubordination in idleness and poverty. 
 
 If anything more were needed to prove the necessity of a 
 
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 155 
 
 compulsory scheme of education, it may be remarked that 
 those who attend schools are necessarily withdrawn from 
 domestic services and manual employments. On leaving 
 school they seek higher employments, and failing to find these 
 in Jamaica, they emigrate, or, in endeavouring to live by 
 their wits, find their way into prison. Again, the existing 
 dearth of skilled artizans, labourers, and servants, is also 
 partly owing to the large exodus of grown people to Colon. 
 Even though many of these should return in better circum- 
 stances, they will never again labour for the low wages that 
 are paid here. Hence the questions arise How shall we 
 stem the tide of ignorance, sloth, and self-will which is 
 sweeping downwards two-thirds of the rising race ? How 
 shall we secure for them a measure of culture and restraint, 
 and give them a fair start in the world 1 and how shall we 
 provide to some extent the much needed supply for domestic 
 and predial services ? 
 
 The only course open to us is to make it compulsory on 
 parents and guardians to send all children, from 5 to 14 years 
 old, to the aided elementary schools, or provide other qualified 
 teachers for them, under penalty of their being taken up as 
 destitute and neglected, and sent to a County Industrial Home, 
 where they shall be taught, fed, clothed, and instructed in 
 gardening, farming, stock rearing, household services, and 
 handicraft employments, and afterwards apprenticed out to 
 families or to tradesmen (for wages) until 20 years old. This, 
 surely, cannot be said to be an unconstitutional measure. In 
 furtherance of this scheme it would be well to make the 
 elementary schools free, and impose a school tax from which 
 to augment the pay of teachers. None would have a valid 
 excuse for neglecting to send children to elementary schools, 
 except the plea of inability to clothe, and this would bring 
 them into the class destitute. 
 
 The numbers now growing up in ignorance and sloth will 
 prey upon the community, increase pauperism, and fill our 
 prisons. The true education of the mass is that which fits for 
 the duties of every-day life and the industries of the country, 
 
156 
 
 DESCRIPTION OP JAMAICA. 
 
 that through these the people may acquire wealth, and rise to 
 higher positions. Technical instruction in elementary indus- 
 tries, with practical illustrations, would lead into channels of 
 prosperity. 
 
 Let the payment of fees be abolished in all the elementary 
 schools, and every child from 5 to 14 years old, not attending 
 a certificated school 40 days in a quarter, made subject to an 
 apprenticeship in a County Home, to learn cultivation under 
 improved methods, experience in stock-rearing, dairy products, 
 and the use of tools and machinery. Such a measure would 
 materially counteract the impoverishing process that is going 
 on now, to culminate soon in destitution and ruin. 
 
 CHAPTER XYIL STATISTICS OF ACREAGE 
 AND POPULATION. 
 
 SURREY. 
 
 Sq. Miles 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Males. 
 
 Females. 
 
 TOTAL. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Kingston . . . 
 
 7i 
 
 4,693 
 
 15,928 
 
 22,638 
 
 38,566 
 
 St. Andrew . . 
 
 i6 9 J 
 
 108,480 
 
 J 7,25i 
 
 17,731 
 
 34,982 
 
 St. Thomas . . 
 
 280 
 
 179,200 
 
 16,819 
 
 17,126 
 
 33,945 
 
 Portland . . . 
 
 3'o 
 
 198,826 
 
 14,294 
 
 14,607 
 
 28,901 
 
 MIDDLESEX. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Catherine 
 
 450 
 
 288,000 
 
 29,972 
 
 31,138 
 
 61,110 
 
 St. Mary . . . 
 
 229 
 
 146,560 
 
 20,010 
 
 19,686 
 
 39,696 
 
 St. Ann . . . 
 
 464 
 
 296,960 
 
 22,831 
 
 23,753 
 
 46,584 
 
 Clarendon . . 
 
 467 
 
 298,880 
 
 25,180 
 
 24,665 
 
 49,845 
 
 Manchester . . 
 
 310 
 
 198,400 
 
 23,622 
 
 28,836 
 
 48,458 
 
 CORNWALL. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 St. Elizabeth . 
 
 47i 
 
 301,440 
 
 26,612 
 
 27,763 
 
 54,375 
 
 Westmoreland . 
 
 3o8i 
 
 197,440 
 
 24,549 
 
 24,486 
 
 49,035 
 
 Hanover . . . 
 
 1 66 
 
 106,240 
 
 14,518 
 
 I5, 49 
 
 29,5 6 7 
 
 St. James . . 
 
 227| 
 
 145,760 
 
 15,815 
 
 17,810 
 
 33,625 
 
 Trelawny . . . 
 
 3324 
 
 212,640 
 
 15,556 
 
 16,559 
 
 32,115 
 
 
 4,193 [2,683,520 
 
 282,957 
 
 297,847 
 
 580,804 
 
POPULATION. 157 
 
 Number under 5 years ..... 75,653 
 
 ,, from 5 to 15 years .... 202,767 
 
 15 to 20 ,, . . . . 58,818 
 
 Total 20 years and under 337,238 
 
 Over 20 years . 243,566 
 
 Total 580,804 
 
 Number from 5 to 15 attending school . . . 67,402 
 
 ,, not attending . . . i35>3 6 5 
 
 202,767 
 
 Birth rate in 1881, 36.7 per 1000. 
 Death rate ,, 26.0 
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. METEOEOLOGY. 
 
 MEAN RAINFALL IN 1881. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 North-Eastern Division ..... 86.40 
 
 Northern Division ..... 56.47 
 
 West Central Division ..... 74.40 
 
 Southern Division . . . . . 49.27 
 
 Mean 66.64 
 
 It appears that while the May and October rains are every- 
 where strongly marked, the northern part of the island has 
 winter rains in November, December, and January ; the south- 
 ern part has summer rains in August and September ; and 
 each part is further divided by the amount of the rainfall 
 thus giving four divisions. 
 
 The North-eastern Division is cut off by a straight line drawn 
 from Port Morant to St. Ann's Bay ; it includes the lofty 
 range of the Blue Mountains, and their continuation as the 
 hills of St. Mary ; it faces the rain-bringing winds of winter ; 
 and it has a large rainfall in November, December, and 
 January, as well as in May and October. This division has 
 the greatest annual rainfall. 
 
158 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 The Northern Division includes the parishes of St. Ann, 
 Trelawny, and St. James. It is that part of the island which 
 lies to the north of those broken ranges of hills which run 
 through the centre of the island, in a direction more or less 
 parallel to the Blue Mountain range. The annual rainfall is less 
 than in the first division, but it has the same characteristics. 
 
 The West Central Division stretches from Chapelton to 
 Lucea. It is deprived of the greater part of the winter rains 
 by the two former divisions, whose hills precipitate the abun- 
 dant vapour in the east-north-easterly winds ; but it has 
 well marked summer rains in August and September, as well 
 as the usual rains in May and October. It has a larger annual 
 rainfall than the northern division. 
 
 The Southern Division has the same characteristics as the 
 West Central, but the annual rainfall is much smaller. 
 
 In the preface to Sloane's " Natural History of Jamaica " 
 we read : " According to the different positions of the places, 
 so are the rains more or less violent, and come at different 
 times ; but, generally speaking, the two great rainy seasons are 
 in May and October, in which mouths, at new or full moon, 
 they begin, and continue day and night for a whole fortnight 
 with great violence, so that the earth in all level places is laid 
 under water for some inches. And these Seasons, as they are 
 called, from their being fit to plant in, are generally so over 
 the whole island, though they are much altered in their time 
 and violence of late years, which arises from the clearing of 
 the country of much wood. 
 
 " In the month of January is likewise expected a season or 
 rain, but this not so constant nor violent as the other two ; 
 and probably may come from the violent northers coming 
 over the mountains with part of their rains with them ; for in 
 the north side of the island rains in that month are generally 
 very frequent and violent, coming along with great winds, 
 which nevertheless seldom pass the hills or ridge of moun- 
 tains running through the middle of the island, so that very 
 often the seasons of the one are different from those of the 
 other. 
 
DEPENDENCIES OF JAMAICA. 159 
 
 " For all the summer months, or when the sun is near or 
 over their heads, or through almost the whole year, towards 
 noon, it rains on some part of the ridge of mountains running 
 through the island, with thunder and lightning. These raius 
 seldom reach two or three miles into the plains ; wherefore, 
 on account of these rains, any valleys lying very near or 
 amongst the mountains have more seasons and are more fertile 
 than the plaius further off, which, if they have any rains, is 
 but the outskirts of that in the mountains, and therefore in- 
 considerable. At other times of the year, sometimes for three 
 or four days together, there may be a shower about 12 to 4 
 o'clock in the afternoon, which only serves to moisten the 
 surface of the ground without any profit." 
 
 It thus appears that Sloane has alluded to the May and 
 October rains, to the rains on the north side, to the summer 
 rains on the central hills, and to the small rainfall on the 
 southern plains. Consequently, the characteristics of the rain- 
 fall have not altered for at least two hundred years. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. DEPENDENCIES OF JAMAICA. 
 
 THE CAYMANAS OR CAYMAN ISLANDS, so called for their 
 fancied resemblance to the cayman or crocodile floating on 
 the water, are three in number. Cayman Brae (Broken 
 Cayman) lies N.W. of Jamaica, distant 113 miles. Farther 
 west, across a channel of ocean water 7 miles wide, lies Little 
 Cayman ; and 60 miles farther towards the south-west is Grand 
 Cayman, bearing W.N.W. from South Negril, distant 180 miles. 
 It is 22 miles long, and 5 miles wide. These islands contain 
 about 4,500 inhabitants. Most of them live at Grand Cayman, 
 in nine villages, neither of which is sufficiently concentrated 
 to be reckoned a town, though two of them are so called. 
 
 The islands were at one time the resort of pirates, but soon 
 after the conquest of Jamaica by the English, some of the 
 disbanded soldiers of the Commonwealth settled there, and 
 
160 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 engaged in the cutting of logwood. The islands were formally 
 placed under British rule, and Grand Cayman was fortified 
 at several places, and a militia organized. The buccaneers 
 left for America. The foundations of forts and a number of 
 cannon are still to be seen. Magistrates were appointed by 
 the governors of Jamaica, and one popularly known as 
 Governor Bodden presided for several years. There is now 
 on record, in Spanish Town, a patent of 2000 acres of land 
 granted by King Charles II. to Mrs. Mary Bodden, probably 
 the wife of Governor Bodden. Slavery existed in Grand 
 Cayman, as in Jamaica. Among others who introduced slaves, 
 one Mrs. Jarrett removed thither with her slaves from the 
 north side of Jamaica Trelawny, probably. 
 
 The slaves were emancipated in 1834, without having to 
 serve the apprenticeship term. Compensation was awarded, 
 but not for the loss of the apprenticeship. Shipwrecked 
 passengers and sailors, and occasional deserters from ships, 
 elected to remain from time to time, so that most of the 
 people, known by not more than a dozen different surnames, 
 are descended from English, Scotch, and Irish forefathers, 
 with, in some instances, an admixture with the black race. 
 The people are exceedingly industrious, quiet, hospitable, and 
 enterprising. Every man owns his bit of land, and builds a 
 neat substantial cottage, and marries early. The habitations 
 are principally on the sea-shore, and present a picturesque 
 appearance at the distance of five or six miles from the coast. 
 The natives build themselves schooners of from 20 to 90 tons 
 burthen, in which they trade to Jamaica and to various parts 
 of the United States of America, and fish for turtle along the 
 banks of Central America. Accustomed to the sea from 
 childhood, they make exceptionally good seamen, while their 
 intercourse with Americans, and seamen in general, renders 
 them sociable and shrewd. They are singularly united and 
 sympathetic, and the few destitute people that are among them 
 are spontaneously relieved and cared for by the neighbours. 
 
 Some years ago they applied for some recognition and 
 governmental provision from Jamaica, and failing to obtain it 
 
DEPENDENCIES OF JAMAICA. 161 
 
 they appealed to the British Parliament, when an Act was 
 passed defining their connection with Jamaica, and sanctioning 
 and elected representatives for the levying and expenditure of 
 their practice of passing local regulations by their magistrates, 
 taxes, and the holding of courts for the adjustment of suits, 
 &c. This Act prohibited the trial of cases over a certain value, 
 and questions of life and death, and prescribed appeals to the 
 Supreme Court of Jamaica. The Caymanians especially 
 need some educational aid, and the appointment of a resident 
 superintendent, uninfluenced by party feeling. 
 
 The TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, geographically the most 
 south-eastern of the Bahama group of islands, lie between 21 
 and 22 N. lat., and 71 and 72 37" W. long. These islands 
 were first discovered by John Ponce de Leon, in 1512, and 
 were settled by emigrants from Bermuda in 1670. After 
 various attempts by the French and Spaniards to obtain 
 possession of them, it was thought necessary in 1766 to appoint 
 some educated person there to protect the rights of the 
 British crown, as the Bermuda emigrants were, to use the 
 words of the Bermuda House of Assembly in a petition to 
 the King, written about that time, "of the meaner sort, and 
 not altogether of sufficient ability to form just and equitable 
 regulations," and, consequently, Andrew Seymour was sent 
 from Nassau in that year as agent. By an order in council, 
 dated 29th June 1781, sundry regulations, framed by Seymour, 
 were approved of for managing the salinas or salt ponds, and 
 for the preservation of order in general amongst the inhabitants. 
 
 In 1790, Colonel the Honourable Alexander Murray, second 
 son of the 4th Earl of Dunmore, the Governor of the Bahamas, 
 arrived as the first properly accredited agent of His Majesty ; 
 and in 1799, after great opposition from the Bermuda settlers, 
 an act was passed by the Bahama legislature, which, by its 
 consequences, placed the Turks and Caicos Islands under 
 the Bahama Government ; and so they remained, notwith- 
 standing frequent protests, until 1848, when, on the petition 
 of 521 inhabitants of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the 
 
162 DESCRIPTION OF JAMAICA. 
 
 House of Assembly of the Bahamas, setting forth the diffi- 
 culties of communication between Nassau and Turks Islands, 
 a distance of 450 miles, and on account of conflicting interests, 
 Her Majesty was pleased to grant a separate charter to the 
 " Turks Islands, and the islands and cays commonly known as 
 the Caicos Islands, together with all cays situate and lying 
 to the eastward of the said Turks and Caicos Islands," which 
 includes the Silver Cays and Banks, 100 miles to the eastward . 
 of Turks Island. 
 
 On the 1st January 1874, in consequence of a petition to 
 Her Majesty the Queen from the Legislative Council, dated 
 17th February 1873, praying for the abrogation of the charter 
 granted in 1848, as it was found too burdensome for the 
 resources of the colony, the Imperial Act 36 Vic., chap. 6, 
 and the order in council of the 4th August 1873, were pro- 
 mulgated, which set forth the terms and conditions on which 
 the Turks and Caicos Islands were annexed to Jamaica as a 
 dependency. 
 
 The present Government, in accordance with the above 
 order in council, and Local Ordinance 8 of 1873, is adminis- 
 tered by a Commissioner, as chief executive officer, who is 
 president of the Legislative Board, of which the other mem- 
 bers are the Judge of the Supreme Court (an ex officio member), 
 and not less than two, or more than four, other persons besides. 
 
 Total population, 4,732. Employments : storekeeping, salt 
 raking, and cultivating corn, potatoes, &c. Exports : salt 
 chiefly, a little wood, and small quantities of sponge total 
 value, ,25,000 per annum. In 1852 an iron lighthouse, 
 visible 18 miles, was erected, at a cost of .4,000, on the 
 northern end of Grand Turk, to mark the. Turks Islands 
 passage, through which about five hundred vessels bound 
 south pass annually. Grand Turk is 7 miles long and 1^ 
 miles wide. The water supply is derived from tanks. Fresh 
 meat and vegetables are scarce. The islands are healthy. 
 
 THE MORANT AND PEDRO CAYS. 
 The Morant Cays are situated about 33 miles to the south- 
 
DEPENDENCIES OF JAMAICA. 163 
 
 east of Morant Point, and consist of three small islets. The 
 sea-birds resort thither in great numbers during March, and 
 in April the islets are covered with their eggs, which are 
 collected and taken in schooners to Jamaica. A few turtles are 
 caught later in the summer. 
 
 The Pedro Cays are situated some 45 miles to the S.W. of 
 Portland Point, and consist of 4 cays. Cocoa-nuts have been 
 planted on the N.E, and S.W. cays. 
 
 All of the aforesaid cays were taken possession of, on behalf 
 of the British crown, in the years 1862 and 1863 respectively, 
 and they were formally annexed to Jamaica on the 1st of 
 June 1882. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 KINGSTON: MCCARTNEY bV&*m~J.Q, KING STREET. 
 
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