^00 A View of the Past and Present State of Jamaica. 



it was indignantly rcjeclcd, " anil ulti- about 130,000 hogsheads of sngar, 



iiiately (says Dr. Colquhoun) abandoned CO,OOOpunclieons of rnm,and 18,000,000 



by liie parent state, wilhont obtaining lbs. of coffee, &c. 



the impost wliich had been demanded, Jamaica contains, according to Mr. 



nnd tiie old privileges of the assembly Robertson's survey, 2,724,262 acres, of 



■were restored, and that of framing such whicii there were in cultivation, m 



laws for their internal government as the 1818, 



exigencies of the country required. Yet j^ plantations 639,000 



the sovereigns refused to confirm those j^ breeding farms, or pens 2ao,000 



privileges, which placed the atlairsot jn coffee, pimento, ginger, cotton, 



Jamaica in a very unsettled state tor Scc.-"- 181,000 



fifty years, and greatly obstructed its . 



progress towards improvement. Total ••1,10(1,000 



The unhappy contest continued from A considerable part of the uncultivated 

 iho reign of Charles the Second to portion is, however, incapable of being 

 <j""ors;ctlie Second, when, in 1728, mat- turned to any account, 

 tcrs were compromised by an agree- face of the island. 

 uient, on the part of the assembly, to The princi|)al chain of mountains runs 

 settle on the crown a perpetual revenue through the centre of the island, from 

 of 80001. a year, on condition, first, that c;ist to west, along a considerable part of 

 the quit-.sents, then estimated at 14601. its extent. These are of various alti- 

 perannum, should form part of the sum ; tudes and degrees of acclivity. Some 

 secondly, that the body of their laws are lolty, broken, and abrupt ; others of 

 should receive the royal assent; and, a lesser lieiglit and more gradual ascent, 

 thirdly, that all such laws and statutes and spreading at their summits into an 

 of England as had at any time been expanse of fine fertile country, beauti- 

 csteenied, introduced, used, accepted, fully varied with hill and dale, and 

 or received, as laws of the island, should interspersed with cofTee, pimento, and 

 be and continue laws of Jamaica for other plantations, and grazing settle- 

 ever. This compromise matured the mciifs, or peus. The loftiest and least 

 constitution of Jamaica." accessible of the central mountains are 

 STATISTICS. the Blue Mountains, in the eastern part 

 The following particulars will show of the island, the highest peak of which 

 the progressive improvement of the is computed to be about 7000 feet above 

 cultivation, population, and commerce the level of the sea. 

 of Jamaica, for the last century and a There is no island in the West Indies 

 half. so diversified in its surface as Jamaica. 

 In 1673, there were in the island Its mountains, its precipitous rocks, its 

 7768 whites, and 9004 slaves. The countless hills, valleys, and glades — its 

 chief products were cocoa, indigo, and lofty, rugged, and abrupt ascents — its 

 bides. Sugar bad just then been begun deep ravines, caverns, and cockpits — its 

 to be cultivated. thick-planted majestic woods — its nu- 

 In 1722, the island produced 11,000 merous rivers, cascades, and mountain- 

 hogsheads of sugar. streams, dashing through this wildness 

 In 1734, there were 7644 whites, of nature— give to the interior a diver- 

 86,.546 slaves, and 76,011 head of cattle, sity and grandeur of appearance not to 

 in the island. be found, perhaps, in any other island of 

 In 1744, there were 9640 whites, similar extent. On descending towards 

 112,428 slaves, and 88,036 head of the sea-shore, the scenery becomes less 

 cattle; and the island produced 35,000 bold and stupendous, though still finely 

 hogsheads of sugar, and 10,000 pun- relieved by the varied surface of the 

 cheons of rum. country, by woods, fields, and luxuriant 

 In 1768, there were 17,000 whites, pastures of Guinea grass, beautifully 

 166,914 slaves, and 135,773 head of shaded by the finest trees, displaying 

 cattle; and ,55,761 hogsheads of sugar, every tint of green. From the higher 

 and 15,551 puncheons of rum were eminences is beheld the more level 

 produced. country below, covered with extensive 

 In 1774, the island produced only cane fields, intermixed with pastures, 

 654,7001bs. of coffee; and, in 1790, tufts of wood, and dwellings, stretching 

 l,783,7401bs. to the seashore, wliich is fringed with 

 At present there are in Jamaica about mangroves, and here and there enlivened 

 350,000 slaves, 300,000 head of stock, with tufts and groves of cocoa-nut, 

 and the annual average produce may be palmcto, and cabbage trees. 



GEOLOGY. 



