JAMAICA 205 



of emancipation, sailed back to England, and left their 

 estates to degenerate in the hands of agents and overseers. 



The history of the island has been unmarked by any 

 serious political disturbances, excepting an occasional 

 uprising of the slaves and rebellion of the maroons. 



During her possession of the island England has made 

 various experiments in devising a suitable form of govern- 

 ment for the colony. It was at first under a military 

 jurisdiction. Then came a period of general assemblies 

 under a governor appointed from England, which lasted 

 two hundred years ; then in I860 a crown government, with 

 a legislature consisting exclusively of official and nomi- 

 nated members. In 1884 the present mixed legislative 

 system of nominated and elected members came into 

 force. 



The island is divided into three counties and twelve 

 parishes. The counties are Surrey on the east, Middlesex 

 in the center, and Cornwall on the west. The function of 

 the county divisions is not clear, the parishes being the 

 chief subdivisions, each of which sends a representative 

 to the colonial assembly. 



The executive consists of a colonial governor ap- 

 pointed by the crown, and having strong supervisory 

 powers, assisted by a colonial secretary, an attorney- 

 general, a director of public works, a collector-general, 

 and the senior officer in command of the military forces. 

 The legislative powers are vested in a council, or colo- 

 nial legislature, consisting of nine elected members, two 

 nominated members, and the administrative officers above 

 mentioned. There is also a privy council. The adminis- 

 trative forces of the island are thoroughly organized 

 under a most efficient system of civil service, admission 

 to which is gained by fair competitive examination. The 

 departments include land, auditor's, treasury, customs, 

 excise, and internal and revenue departments, The 

 postal and telegraph service is thoroughly equipped. The 

 object of the government medical service is to diffuse 



medical assistance throughout the several parishes, by 



