Jamaica.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 107, 5 May 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

Jamaica.

Jamaica, the chief of the British Wesb Indian islands, is aboub 100 miles to the south of Cuba, and about tbe same distance west of H.'ayti. It is about 144 miles long from wes tto east, and 50 broad. The Cayman Islands, as well asCaicos Island and Turk's Island are included in the Governmental area. Discovered by Columbus in 1494, it was in a few years occupied by the Spaniards. By a treaty made in 1670 it was ceded to England, having been held by her since 1655, when Perm and Venables conquered it. The aboriginal Indians were then nearly extinct;. Cromwell shipped thither many prisoners, especially those t?iken in Ireland.

African Negroes

bad been imporbed by the Spaniards to work tho plantations, and the English imported many more till tho emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Insurrections of the slaevs, who were very badly treated, broke out in 1760, 1765 and 1795, although three years before the last movement an Act had been passed for amelioiating bheir condition. The British Legislature did its best, but the planters wero not to be controlled, and in 1831 another movement had to be put down. In 1838, after a Parliamentary inquiry, an Act abolishing apprenticeship waa passed by the Imperial Parliament. In 1865 the

Last Insurrection op The Slaves was crushed jvith great severity by Governor Eyre (q.v.). The constitution granted in 1664 was then annulled, and Jamaica has since been a Crown colony, under a Governor, a Legislative Council, and a Privy Council. The Blue Mountains, which vary in height from 5,000 to 7,500 feet, traverse tho eastern part of the island, lamaica has a fine stretch of coastdine, and more than thirty fine harbours, of which tho finest is Kingston Harbour, or Port Royal. There is great variety of climate ; the coast is lesa healthy than the intorior. Partial rains fall in the spring ; the heavy rains begin in June and last two months, during which intense heat prevails. A

Third Raint Season is in October and November. Many kinds of water-fowl are found, as well as parrots and pigeons, and a wide variety of insects, but few snakes. Land-crabs and tortoises abound, more especially the violet crab (Cancer ruricola). The chief fruits are the mango, the banana, the pine-apple, cocoanut, melon, mulberry, and bread-fruit. Maize flourishes greatly, and guinea-grass, which is very useful for grazing purposes, grows to a height of nearly 6 feet. Large crops are also raised of ginger, cochineal, pepper, vanilla, arrowroot, and several medicinal herbs. The

Chief Articles Grown for Extort are sugar, various fruits, coffee, pimento logwood and ginger, more than half the trade being with the United States. Many negroes havo small holdings, and are bho chief fruib growers. Rising industries are horse breeding and bhe curing of fish, whicb abound in the rivers. Ib is bhoughb by experts thab the chief wealth of Jamacia lies in its minerals ; and gold, eilver and the chief obher metals are known to exist in considerable quantities, but are little drawn upon. What were known as 'Jamaica diamonds' turned out to be crystals. Jamaica is divided into three divisions, or counties, of which the largesb is Middlesex, the central portion ; the others are Surrey, on the east, and Cornwall on bhe wesb. The capital is Kingsbon, and bhe chief other bown is Spanish Town (Sb. Jago de la Vega), a litble furbher wesb.