l82 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



or more, in rows like white pillars with dark green 

 caps, and stand in relief upon all the hills. A mile 

 from town is an avenue of seventy, which, though 

 its symmetry is marred hy the loss of some by hurri- 

 canes, is still a beautiful sight. 



Three miles from town, one mile from the palm 

 avenue in Arno's Vale, is a noted spa ; from a hole 

 six inches in diameter gushes out a volume of water 

 impregnated with salts that give it value as a medici- 

 nal drink. It is equal in strength and beneficial effects 

 to any water from the spas of Europe. It is averred 

 that the water is more strongly impregnated, and that 

 the flow is stronger, on the coming full of the moon. 

 Water bottled at that time will sometimes break the 

 strongest case. 



When it became known that I was to visit the far- 

 ther coast, I was furnished with letters by proprietors 

 to the managers of their estates in different portions 

 of the island. These were given me mainly by Mr. 

 Porter, part-owner of a great number of sugar-estates ; 

 for the pleasure of whose acquaintance I was indebted 

 to the U. S. consul, Mr. Hughes. So efficient were 

 these letters, and so hospitable were the managers of 

 the many estates traversed, that I made the complete 

 circuit of the island on borrowed horses. When it is 

 considered that sometimes my excursions were into 

 the mountains over trails so rough that no one but a 

 West Indian or South American would think of cross- 

 ing them, and that I sometimes had a horse several 

 days, the extent of their kindness may be appreciated. 



The coast along the entire western shore is pictu- 

 resque in the extreme, with volcanic rocks worn into 

 caves, beautiful bays and broad valleys. Near Cum- 



