KINGSTON, the commercial capital of Jamaica, is si-
tuate on the S. coast of the island, N. Lat. 17. 57., W.
Long. 76. 49., 16 miles N.E. by rail from Spanish Town. It
is built on a gentle slope ascending towards the Ligu-
area Plain. Beyond this is the lofty ridge of the Blue
Mountains; the country around is highly cultivated, and
the whole aspect of the place, approached from its mag-
nificent harbour, is not a little imposing as well as pic-
turesque. A nearer view reveals a state of internal disorgani-
zation and filth, pronounced by the unanimous testimony
of high authorities to be utterly disgraceful to a city so
wealthy and important. The streets are regular, the houses
built generally of brick, with verandahs, piazzas, &c., to
ward off the heat; but there is neither pavement nor sewer,
and in the May and October rains torrents sweep the streets,
sometimes undermining the houses; the principal thorough-
fares are ploughed like river courses, and heaped with stones,
rubbish, and filth; while starving dogs, swine, and carrion
crows wander about at will, enjoying an atmosphere tainted
with congenial odours. As a result of this extraordinary
neglect on the part of the city corporation, one-eighth of
the population was, in 1850, carried off in about six weeks
by cholera. The harbour is completely landlocked, the
long narrow reef, on the western extremity of which Port
Royal stands, forming a natural breakwater within which
there is anchorage for the largest ships. The entrance is
narrow and intricate, and is protracted by the Apostle's
Battery on the left, and Fort Charles on the right. Fur-
ther in is Fort Augusta, a place of considerable strength.
Kingston was founded immediately after the destruction of
Port Royal, the original capital of the island, by the great
earthquake in 1692. Port Royal is still, however, an inhab-
ited place, being the naval station for the island. It contains
an arsenal, and is well fortified. The principal exports
from Kingston are sugar, rum, coffee, pimento, and ginger,
the several quantities of which, for the nine months ending
July 5, 1855, were 17,600 hhd., 10,558 puncheons, 4,528,110
lb., 4,673,323 lb., and 183,168 lb. The actual value of
taxable property in the parish of Kingston in 1851 was es-
timated at £700,000; the taxes, public and parochial,
amounted to £19,413. Pop. in 1844 (last census) 32,943,
of whom 4253 were whites, the rest black or coloured. See
JAMAICA.