CHAP, iv.] WEST INDIES. 207 



To these inequalities of its surface, however, it is 

 owing, that although the soil in many parts of this 

 island is deep and very fertile, yet the quantity of 

 rich productive land is but small in proportion to the 

 whole. The generality of what has been cultivated is 

 of a middling quality, and requires labour and manure 

 to make it yield liberally. In fine, with every preju- 

 dice in its favour, if we compare Jamaica with many 

 other islands of nearly the same extent, (with Sicily., 



called Pedro Point, situated on the south-west coast, in the parish of St. 

 Elizabeth. I am indebted to a friend for the following interesting ac- 

 count of this part of the island, which deserves to be better known and 

 better peopled than it seems to be at present. 



" Pedro Plains differ from every ether savanna of the island, and from 

 any part that I have seen of Cuba. From the district of Fullerswood, in 

 St. Elizabeth's parish, it runs eastward along the coast on an easy ascent 

 to the highest ridge, which is called Tophill j from whence it stretches 

 inland more than twenty miles in length, and about five in width. It is not 

 altogether unlike the downs in some parts of England, and is most beau 

 tifully dotted with clumps of wood, amongst which the alee, torch-thistle, 

 and other plants of that genus, flourish in great luxuriance, from half an 

 acre to many acres in extent j the boundaries being as nea'ly defined as 

 if kept so by art. The soil in colour is the deepest red, baked hard on 

 the surface by the action of the suu, but of so porous a nature as to absoib 

 the heaviest rains as fast as they fall. The herbage is in general coarse; 

 nevertheless, it maintains many thousands both of neat cattle and horses, 

 and in no part of the world, I believe, is the latter found nearer to a 

 state of wild nature than here. As the whole of this district is unfur- 

 nished with springs, or even ponds of any duration, the stock are com- 

 pelled to go for water to the wells which are sunk in the lower parts of 

 the country, at which time the hunters have opportunities pf catching 

 them; and contrivances are made for that purpose. This the master- 

 horse seems to be well apprized of; for he leads into the inclosure with 

 admirable caution, and as soon as his own thirst is allayed, he is very 

 impatient to get his family out, which he always drives before him, He 



