JAMAICA 195 



of Vere Parish in Clarendon, where it is about fifteen 

 miles. In all, it includes about two hundred square 

 miles. 



In comparison witli the other regions of the island the 

 physical aspect of this plain is arid and sterile; the flora, 

 including thorny acacias and cactus, tends toward the 

 chaparral type characteristic of the Rio Grande plain of 

 Mexico and Texas, and is strikingly unlike the delicate 

 deciduous tropical flora of the remainder of the island. 

 Back of Savana- la-Mar there is another extensive plain 

 which continues inward nearly one half the distance across 

 the island. Plains of this character are singularly absent 

 from the north side, except at Montego Bay, adjacent to 

 the mouth of Montego River, where they are less feebly 

 developed than on the south coast. 



Jamaica revels in an abundance of streams not navi- 

 gable rivers, but beautiful and rapidly flowing creeks, rush- 

 ing through exquisite valleys over stony bottoms, and 

 affording a wealth of waters for the needs of man. They 

 are copious and voluminous, but not so deep that the 

 dusky damsel need submerge her cargo or unduly elevate 

 her skirts, as, without relaxing her majestic strides, she 

 wades across, or as she laves to snowy whiteness the linen 

 which she spreads upon the banks to dry. 



Cutting-grass-spots and Deans rivers in Westmoreland, 

 and Content River in Hanover, are other examples of 

 these peculiar streams. It is supposed that their waters, 

 after sinking into the ground, in some instances find a 

 subterranean way coastward through the porous lime- 

 stones. 



Besides the rivers there are many beautiful pools and 

 springs. The numerous mineral springs are locally noted 

 for their curative powers. The hottest of these is at 

 Bath, in the parish of St. Thomas, with a temperature 

 of 12G F. The waters are sulphuric and contain a large 

 proportion of hydrosulphate of lime. They are sup- 

 posedly beneficial for gout, rheumatism, cutaneous affec- 



