an island of the West Indies, the largest of the Antilles, lying between 17° and 19° N. Lat. and between 76° and 79° W. Long.; in length near 170 miles, and about 60 in breadth. It approaches in its figure to an oval. The windward passage right before it hath the island of Cuba on the west, and Hispaniola on the east, and is about 20 leagues in breadth.
This island was discovered by admiral Christopher Columbus in his second voyage, who landed upon it May 5, 1494; and was so much charmed with it, as always to prefer it to the rest of the islands; in consequence of which, his son chose it for his dukedom. It was settled by Juan d' Esquivel A.D. 1509, who built the town, which, from the place of his birth, he called Seville, and 11 leagues farther to the east stood Melilla. Orilton was on the south side of the island, seated on what is now called Blue Fields River. All these are gone to decay; but St Jago, now Spanish Town, is still the capital. The Spaniards held this country 160 years, and in their time the principal commodity was cacao; they had an immense stock of horses, asses, and mules, and prodigious quantities of cattle. The English landed here under Penn and Venables, May 11, 1654, and quickly reduced the island. Cacao was also their principal commodity till the old trees decayed, and the new ones did not thrive; and then the planters from Barbadoes introduced sugar-canies, which hath been the great staple ever since.
The prospect of this island from the sea, by reason of its constant verdure, and many fair and safe bays, is wonderfully pleasant. The coast, and for some miles within, the land is low; but removing farther, it rises and becomes hilly. The whole isle is divided by a ridge of mountains running east and west, some rising to a great height; and these are composed of rock, and a very hard clay; through which, however, the rains that fall incessantly upon them have worn long and deep cavities, which they call gullies. These mountains, however, are far from being unpleasant, as they are crowned even to their summits by a variety of fine trees. There are also about a hundred rivers that issue from them on both sides; and, though none of them are navigable for anything but canoes, are both pleasing and profitable in many other respects. The climate, like that of all countries between the tropics, is Jamaica very warm towards the sea, and in marshy places unhealthy; but in more elevated situations, cooler; and, where people live temperately, to the full as wholesome as in any part of the West Indies. The rains fall heavy for about a fortnight in the months of May and October; and, as they are the cause of fertility, are styled seasons. Thunder is pretty frequent, and sometimes showers of hail; but ice or snow, except on the tops of the mountains, are never seen; but on them, and at no very great height, the air is exceedingly cold.
The most eastern parts of this ridge are famous under the name of the Blue Mountains. This great chain of rugged rocks defends the south side of the island from those boisterous north-west winds, which might be fatal to their produce. Their streams, though small, supply the inhabitants with good water, which is a great blessing, as their wells are generally brackish. The Spaniards were persuaded that these hills abounded with metals; but we do not find that they wrought any mines; or if they did, it was only copper, of which they said the bells in the church of St Jago were made. They have several hot springs, which have done great cures. The climate was certainly more temperate before the great earthquake; and the island was supposed to be out of the reach of hurricanes, which since then it hath severely felt. The heat, however, is very much tempered by land and sea breezes; and it is asserted, that the hottest time of the day is about eight in the morning. In the night, the wind blows from the land on all sides, so that no ships can then enter their ports.
In an island so large as this, which contains above five millions of acres, it may be very reasonably conceived that there are great variety of soils. Some of these are deep, black, and rich, and mixed with a kind of potter's earth; others shallow and sandy; and some of a middle nature. There are many savannahs, or wide plains, without stones, in which the native Indians had luxuriant crops of maize, which the Spaniards turned into meadows, and kept in them prodigious herds of cattle. Some of these savannahs are to be met with even amongst the mountains. All these different soils may be justly pronounced fertile, as they would certainly be found, if tolerably cultivated, and applied to proper purposes. A sufficient proof of this will arise from a very cursory review of the natural and artificial produce of this spacious country.
It abounds in maize, pulse, vegetables of all kinds, meadows of fine grass, a variety of beautiful flowers, and as great a variety of oranges, lemons, citrons, and other rich fruits. Useful animals there are of all sorts, horses, asses, mules, black cattle of a large size, and sheep, the flesh of which is well tasted, though their wool is hairy and bad. Here are also goats and hogs in great plenty; tea and river fish; wild, tame, and water-fowl. Amongst other commodities of great value, they have the sugar-cane, cacao, indigo, pimento, cotton, ginger, and coffee; trees for timber and other uses, such as mahogany, manchineel, white wood, which no worm will touch, cedar, olives, and many more. Besides these, they have fustick, red wood, and various other materials for dyeing. To these we may add a multitude of valuable drugs, such as guaiacum, china, saraparilla, cassia, tamarinds, vanellas, and the prickle-pear. Jamaica, or opuntia, which produces the cochineal; with no inconsiderable number of odoriferous gums. Near the coast they have salt-ponds, with which they supply their own consumption, and might make any quantity they pleased.
As this island abounds with rich commodities, it is happy likewise in having a number of fine and safe ports. Point Morant, the eastern extremity of the island, hath a fair and commodious bay. Passing on to the south, there is Port Royal; on a neck of land which forms one side of it, there stood once the fairest town in the island; and the harbour is as fine a one as can be wished, capable of holding a thousand large vessels, and still the station of our squadron. Old Harbour is also a convenient port, so is Maccary Bay; and there are at least twelve more between this and the western extremity, which is point Negrillo, where our ships of war lie when there is a war with Spain. On the north side there is Orange Bay, Cold Harbour, Rio Novo, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, one of the finest in the island, and several others. The north-west winds, which sometimes blow furiously on this coast, render the country on that side less fit for canes, but pimento thrives wonderfully; and certainly many other staples might be raised in small plantations, which are frequent in Barbadoes, and might be very advantageous here in many respects.
The town of Port Royal stood on a point of land running far out into the sea, narrow, sandy, and incapable of producing anything. Yet the excellence of the port, the convenience of having ships of seven hundred tons coming close up to their wharfs, and other advantages, gradually attracted inhabitants in such a manner, that though many of their habitations were built on piles, there were near two thousand houses in the town in its most flourishing state, and which let at high rents. The earthquake by which it was overthrown happened on the 7th of June 1692, and numbers of people perished in it. This earthquake was followed by an epidemic disease, of which upwards of three thousand died; yet the place was rebuilt; but the greatest part was reduced to ashes by a fire that happened on the 9th of January 1703, and then the inhabitants removed mostly to Kingston. It was, however, rebuilt for the third time; and was raising towards its former grandeur, when it was overwhelmed by the sea, August 28, 1722. There is, notwithstanding, a small town there at this day. Hurricanes since that time have often happened, and occasioned terrible devastations.
The island is divided into three counties, Middlesex, Surry, and Cornwall; containing 20 parishes, over each of which presides a magistrate styled a custos; but these parishes in point of size are a kind of hundreds. The whole contain 36 towns and villages, 18 churches and chapels, and about 23,000 white inhabitants.
The administration of public affairs is by a governor and council of royal appointment, and the representatives of the people in the lower house of assembly. They meet at Spanish Town, and things are conducted with great order and dignity. The lieutenant-governor and commander in chief has L.5000 currency, or L.35571:8:6½, Sterl. besides which, he has a house in Spanish-town, a pen or a farm adjoining, and a poling or mountain for provisions; a secretary, an under-secretary, and a domestic chaplain.
The honourable the council consists of a president and 10 members; with a clerk, at L.270, chaplain L.100, usher of the black rod and messenger L.250.
The honourable the assembly consists of 43 members, one of whom is chosen speaker. To this assembly belong a clerk, with L.1000 salary; a chaplain, L.150; messenger, L.700; deputy, L.140; and printer, L.200.
The number of members returned by each parish and county are, for Middlesex 17, viz. St Catharine 3, St Dorothy 2, St John 2, St Thomas in the Vale 2, Clarendon 2, Vere 2, St Mary 2, St Ann 2: For Surry 16, viz. Kingston 3, Port Royal 3, St Andrew 2, St David 2, St Thomas in the East 2, Portland 2, St George 2: For Cornwall 19, viz. St Elizabeth 2, Westmoreland 2, Hanover 2, St James 2, Trelawney 2.
The high court of chancery consists of the chancellor (governor for the time being), 25 masters in ordinary, and 20 masters extraordinary; a register, and clerk of the patents; serjeant at arms, and mace-bearer. The court of vice admiralty has a sole judge, judge surrogate, and commissary, King's advocate, principal register, marshal, and a deputy-marshal. The court of ordinary, consists of the ordinary (governor for the time being), and a clerk. The supreme court of judicature, has a chief justice, L.120, and 16 assistant judges; attorney-general, L.400; clerk of the courts, L.100; clerk of the crown, L.350; solicitor for the crown; 33 commissioners for taking affidavits; a provost-marshal-general, and eight deputies; 18 barristers, besides the attorney-general and advocate-general; and upward of 120 practising attorneys at law.
The commerce of Jamaica is very considerable, not only with all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, but with Africa, North and South America, the West India islands, and the Spanish main. The ships annually employed are upwards of 500 sail.
The following account of the exports of this island in 1770, as given by Abbe Raynal, but which in several particulars appears to be under-rated, will contribute more than all that hath been said, to show the importance of Jamaica. They consisted in 2249 bales of cotton, which at 10 pounds per bale, the price in the island, amounts to 22,490 l.; 1873 hundred weight of coffee, at three pounds five shillings per hundred, 6081 l.; 2753 bags of ginger, at two pounds five shillings per bag, 6194 l.; 2211 hides, at seven shillings per hide, 773 l.; 16,475 puncheons of rum, at 10 l. per puncheon, 164,750 l. Mahogany, 15,282 pieces and 8500 feet, 50,000 l. Of pimento, 2,080,734 pounds weight, 52,243 l. Sugar, 57,675 hogheads, 6425 tierces, 52 barrels, at seventeen pounds ten shillings per hoghead; twelve pounds per tierce, and four pounds per barrel; amounting in the whole to 1,086,620 l. Sarafaparilla, 205 bags, at ten pounds per bag, 2250 l. Exports to Great Britain and Ireland, 1,391,210 l. To North America, 146,324 l. To the other islands, 595 l. Total of the exports, 1,528,730 l.
The following is a general view of the property and chief produce of the whole island in 1786, as prefixed by Mr Beckford to his descriptive account of Jamaica. It should be here observed, that where two hogs- heads of sugar are made, there is at least one puncheon of rum; but the proportion has been of late years more considerable: the quantity of the latter will therefore be 52,700 puncheons.
A comparative view between the years 1768 and 1786.
| Counties | Sugar Estates | Other Settlements | Produce Slaves | Hhds. of Sugar | Cattle | |----------|---------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------|--------| | Middlesex | 323 | 917 | 87100 | 31500 | 75000 | | Surry | 350 | 540 | 75600 | 34900 | 80000 | | Cornwall | 388 | 561 | 90000 | 39000 | 69500 | | Total | 1061 | 2018 | 255700 | 105400 | 224500 |
From the above scheme it appears, how consider- able has been the increase of sugar-estates, and con- sequently of produce of negroes and cattle in eighteen years: and in the same portion of time (it is said), if proper encouragement were given, they might be augmented in a threefold proportion.
The common valuation of an estate in Jamaica as follows:
Cane land (the canes upon it valued separately) at £22 per acre. Plants - 22 ditto. Cane land, in ratoons and young plants 15 ditto. Pasture land - 8 ditto. Wood land - 4 ditto. Provisions - 14 ditto. Negroes - 57 ditto. Mules - 22 ditto. Steers - 10 ditto. Breeding cattle, &c. - 5 ditto. Works, water, carts, &c. from 7 to 10,000
If a planter would wish to leave his estate for a num- ber of years, his income would be large if he could get only 10d. sterling a day for his negroes (the loss made good), without requiring any thing for his land or works.