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decay so soon. It is supposed that not fewer than 120,000 persons 

 are constantly employed in England in different branches of the 

 manufacture of this single staple. There is but little of it worked 

 up at the places of its growth, except in the fabric of hammocks, 

 and even this little branch has never yet reached Jamaica. In some 

 parts of the island, as in Vere, a few industrious housewives make 

 knitted stockings with it for their families ; and some few planters 

 spin their own wick for lamps in crop time ; but, probably not a 

 third of a bag is spent in this way, as the greater number buy what 

 is imported from Great Britain. 



In this example we have a proof of the great comparative value 

 of the West Indian colonies, which do not rival Great Britian in 

 manufactures, over those which are dangerous competitors with 

 her. This disparity begins from the very verge of the Tropics, 

 and grows more visible the further we recede from thence to the 

 northwards. In the Carolinas, I have been informed that the 

 planters have in general so great a number of looms at work, as 

 to be able to clothe their black and white labourers with a coarse 

 fabric of cotton cloth : they save by this means, a heavy annual 

 charge, being the growers, as well as jnauiifactiirers. If the Jamaica 

 planters were to pursue the same scheme, and each to set up a 

 loom in his house, the loss to Britain would be near £300,000 

 sterling per annum ; but such establishments only take effect in 

 very populous colonies, where the people are too poor to buy, can 

 afford cheap labour, are not over nice in their clothing, and cannot 

 give their time or hands to more lucrative purposes. 



In Jamaica it is not worth while to enter upon such a manufacture ; 

 because, upon computation, it would come to a higher price than a 

 better fabric imported from the mother country ; because labour 

 can be applied to more gainful works ; because the inhabitants are 

 fond of being well dressed ; and, lastly, have a variety of staples, 

 which require too constant attention to give them leisure for 

 attending the loom. 



The Indians of the island, when it was discovered by Columbus, 

 manufactured this article into hammocks and apparel. Nature 

 having denied fleeces to the sheep of these climates, this vegetable 

 wool seems to have been given them as a substitute ; and it is 

 certainly the best appropriated, and wholesome material for a 

 tropical dresss. 



The seeds are esteemed efficacious in the bloody flux ; and an 

 oil is obtained from them by expression, which supplies the 

 boiling-house lamps on some plantations. 



