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 120 miles, and about 50 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. Oriston 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 Barbados introduced sugar-canes, 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 Jamaica 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 with 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 any thing but canoes, are both pleasing and profitable in many other respects. The climate, like that of all countries between the tropics, is 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 and snow are never seen, although on the tops of the mountains, and at no very great height, the air is exceedingly cold.
The most eastern parts of this ridge are known under the name of the Blue Mountains, some of which exceed 5000 feet in height. 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. The 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 performed 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 that time 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 four 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 potters 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 keep 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; sea 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, sarsaparilla, cassia, tamarinds, vanellas, and the prickly pear or opuntia, which produces the cochineal; with no inconsiderable number of odoriferous gums. Near the coast they have salt-ponds, from which at one time they supplied their own consumption, and might certainly 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 Merant, the eastern extremity of the island, hath a fair and commodious bay. 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.
The town of Port Royal stood on a point of land running far out into the sea, narrow, sandy, and incapable of producing any thing. Yet the excellence of the port gradually attracted inhabitants, and 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 rising 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. The whole contain 36 towns and villages, and 18 churches and chapels. The population in 1787 was estimated at 250,000 negroes, 30,000 whites, 10,000 people of colour, and 1400 maroons; in all 291,400 inhabitants.
In 1812, the number of slaves was 319,912. The number of whites was not published; but estimating it at 40,000, the whole population would be 360,000.
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 5000l. currency, or 3571l. 8s. 6½d. sterling, besides which, he has a house in Spanish-town, a pen or a farm adjoining, and a polink or mountain for provisions; a secretary, an under-secretary, and a domestic chaplain.
The honourable the council consists of a president and The honourable the assembly consists of 43 members, one of whom is chosen speaker. To this assembly belong a clerk, with 100l. salary; a chaplain, 150l.; messenger, 700l.; deputy, 140l.; and printer, 200l.
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 10, 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; sergeant 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, and 16 assistant judges; attorney-general; clerk of the court; clerk of the crown; 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 average expense of the cultivation of sugar is 20s. 10d. per cwt. independent of the interest of capital and produce of rum. The works necessary for making 200 hogsheads annually cost 10,000l. Jamaica currency; and an estate producing such a quantity requires 40,000l. to establish it, viz. 250 negroes, at 70l. each, amounting to 17,500l.; 180 cattle and mules, at Jamaica 30l. each, 5400l.; buildings for the manufactures, and houses for negroes and owners, 7000l.; and land, 10,000l. The value of the buildings and machinery on the sugar plantations varies from 4000l. to 25,000l. sterling. Estates containing 1300 negroes, and a due proportion of whites, require about 10,000l. sterling of supplies annually of British manufactures and provisions. One hundred barrels of herrings are required for 250 negroes in the course of the year.
Coffee was little cultivated in Jamaica till 1788. The coffee plantations are generally situated in hilly districts, which are unfit for sugar plantations. The cultivation has increased rapidly. In the three years ending 1827, the average export was 28½ millions of pounds, which, at 6l. per cwt. its cost in Jamaica, produces 1,700,000l. Cotton is not cultivated to a very great extent. Very little indigo is raised; and in all probability it will never again become a staple commodity.
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.
| Counties | Sugar Estates | Other Settlements | 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|
It should be here observed, that where two hogsheads of sugar are made, there is at least one puncheon of rum; but the proportion has been of late years more considerable.
A comparative view between the years 1768 and 1786.
| | Middlesex in 1768 | Surry in 1768 | Cornwall in 1768 | Total in 1768 | Amount of Increase | |----------------|------------------|---------------|-----------------|--------------|-------------------| | Sugar Estate | 239 | 323 | 146 | 350 | | | Sugar Hhds. | 24050 | 31500 | 15010 | 34900 | | | Negroes | 66744 | 87100 | 39542 | 75600 | | | Cattle | 59510 | 75000 | 21465 | 80000 | |
The official value of the imports from Jamaica to Great Britain, and the exports to the island, were in
| Imports | Exports | |---------------|---------------| | 1809 | L.4,068,897 | L.3,033,234 | | 1810 | 4,303,337 | 2,303,179 |
The principal articles were
| Coffee Cwt. | Sugar Cwt. | Rum Gallons | Pimento Lbs. | Cotton Lbs. | |---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|--------------| | 1809 | 214,415 | 1,104,612 | 3,470,250 | 2,219,367 | | 1810 | 252,808 | 1,611,422 | 3,428,452 | 2,372,964 |
The The common valuation of an estate in Jamaica is as follows:
| Item | Sterling per acre | |-------------------------------|-------------------| | Cane land (the canes upon it valued separately) | L. 22 | | 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 |
The revenues of the island amount to about 300,000l. annually, Jamaica currency. They are derived from taxes, consisting chiefly of a duty on negroes imported, an excise on rum, &c., a poll tax on slaves and stock, and a rate on rents and wheel carriages.
There are nineteen beneficed clergymen in the island, each of whom receives 420l. per annum, subject to a deduction of 10 per cent. for a widow's fund. Besides this stipend, there are surplus fees, which in Kingston, Spanish-town, and St Andrews, are very great. The last has also considerable glebe lands annexed to the living.
All white males, from fifteen to sixty, are obliged by law to provide themselves with arms, and to enter either into the cavalry or infantry of the militia.