XAYMACA; THE ISLAND OF MANY RIVERS 329 



Early in March we drove to Kingston, around 

 the northeast end of the island, under the shadow 

 of the John Crow mountains, following the pic- 

 turesque undulations of the coast. Passing 

 through the level lands of St. Thomas, we saw 

 the many ruins of the former sugar estates, the 

 decayed walls of mansions, now entirely overgrown 

 with creepers, and the tumbled heaps of the 

 once busy mills. All the territory is at present 

 turned to banana culture, and is leased or owned 

 by the Boston Fruit Company. Leaving the 

 coast at Hectors River we drove inland, through 

 constantly var^dng scenery, now along the bank 

 of a rushing river, again crossing a wide savannah. 

 At Bath, hidden away among the hills, a night 

 was spent in a fairly comfortable lodging-house. 



" Here are famous mineral springs both hot and cold, said 

 to possess remarkable curative powers. The way to them lies 

 along a narrow gorge, bordered with fern and moss and 

 creepers covering the dark gray rock, and almost hiding from 

 view the river rushing along below. Tree ferns spread abroad 

 their arching fronds, and the air was fragrant and heavy with 

 moisture, for it is a verdant hothouse of nature. From out 

 the rocks above, tiny streamlets trickle across into the river 

 beneath, some hot, some cold, and high over all nods the 

 graceful bamboo, with its whispering leaves. A mile and a 

 half of the enchanted road brings us to the Baths, which are 

 wedged between the hillside and the river bank. The springs 

 that supply them with hot and cold water bubble out of the 

 rocks higher up, within a few feet of each other ; the hot one 

 at a temperature of 130° Fahrenheit." 



