CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



In 1509, it was occupied by Spanish settlers, 

 who for many years were engaged in incessant 

 warfare with the natives. These were at last 

 completely extirpated, not a single native being 

 left alive when the English took possession of the 

 island in 1655, nor, it is said, for a century before. 

 Cromwell greatly encouraged the settlement of 

 Jamaica, and in a few years the population rapidly 

 increased, the settlers being principally soldiers 

 from the disbanded Parliamentary army, and out- 

 laws from the mother-country. Numerous impor- 

 tations of negro slaves also took place ; and from 

 that time till now, the population has gradually 

 increased. 



Jamaica has been subjected to several dreadful 

 earthquakes, one of which, in 1692, caused almost 

 the entire loss of the town of Port Royal. It was 

 also much injured in 1722 by one of those dread- 

 ful hurricanes so frequent in tropical climes. The 

 white inhabitants have been repeatedly in danger j 

 from the revolts of their slaves, which were the 

 occasions of much bloodshed and cruelty on both ' 

 sides. The most remarkable rebellion broke out 

 in 1795, and which has been known since by the 

 name of the Maroon War ; Maroons being the 

 name assumed by negroes who had escaped from 

 slavery and fled to the mountains. No other 

 vent occurred to disturb the peace of Jamaica 

 until 1831, when an extensive revolt took place, 

 from the exaggerated hopes of the negroes for 

 emancipation. Since the passing of the Emanci- , 

 pation Act, no disturbances of any importance 

 occurred till 1865, when a serious insurrection 

 broke out, which was promptly quelled by the 

 vigorous measures adopted for its suppression by 

 Governor Eyre. 



Jamaica is of an oval shape, and presents a 

 greater variety of scenery and climate than any 

 other island in the West Indies. The Blue 

 Mountains run from one end to the other, and 

 rise in some parts to the height of 7278 feet. 

 These are intersected by cross-ridges running 

 north and south. At the south end, these moun- 

 tains, covered with forests, are high, abrupt, and 

 difficult of access. On the other side, the hills 

 rise gently, and are separated by vales, the vege- 

 tation of which is extremely luxuriant and beau- 

 tiful. 



There are numerous rivers in Jamaica, but 

 none are navigable for vessels of any burden. 

 They are extremely valuable, however, in irri- 

 gating the country, and turning mills upon planta- 

 tions. There are sixteen principal harbours, 

 which afford secure havens for shipping, and about 

 thirty bays or roadsteads with good anchorage. 



The soil is generally deep and fertile. The 

 best is termed the brick-mould, which is so rich 

 as to require no manure. A rich lead ore, impreg- 

 nated with silver, is found in some parts of the 

 country; and varieties of copper, striated antimony, 

 and ironstone have also been obtained. 



Jamaica is divided into three counties Middle- 

 sex, Surrey, and Cornwall. The seat of govern- 

 ment is Spanishtown, in the county of Middlesex. 

 The town, with the exception of the public build- 

 ings, is mean and dirty. Kingston, the most 

 important town in the island, is the commercial 

 capital. It is situated upon the margin of the 

 harbour, on a gentle slope, which terminates above 

 in a fine plateau, behind which rise a range of 

 mountains. The harbour, which is a sort of j 



332 



lagoon inclosed by a sandbank, running parallel 

 to the coast, affords excellent anchorage, and the 

 largest merchant-ships can ride close inshore. It 

 is defended by numerous batteries, and is con- 

 sidered unassailable from the sea. At the termin- 

 ation of the sandbank is situated Port Royal, 

 where a flag-ship is stationed, and where are also 

 a dockyard and naval hospital. Montego Bay, on 

 the opposite side of the island from Kingston, is a 

 sea-port of some importance. Falmouth, .about 

 fifteen miles east of Montego, has risen rapidly. 

 There is more produce shipped from this port 

 than from any other in the island except Kingston. 



The produce of Jamaica and the value of estates 

 suffered great diminution after the abolition of 

 slavery and the removal of the protective duties 

 on sugar. Many estates were thrown almost or 

 wholly out of cultivation, and the emancipated 

 negroes preferred to squat in idleness on their 

 provision-grounds, rather than to labour on the 

 plantations. From the depression thus occasioned, 

 and which was more felt in Jamaica than else- 

 where, the island is gradually recovering. 



Honduras or Belize. Although belonging to 

 continental America, this British settlement may 

 be noticed here, as, until recently, it belonged to 

 the government of Jamaica. It has now a separate 

 government under a lieutenant-governor, appointed 

 by the crown. It is situated on the east coast 

 of Central America, between Yucatan and Guate- 

 mala. The area is 13,500 square miles, with a 

 population of 24,700, mostly negroes and Caribs. 

 It is valuable chiefly for its vast forests of mahog- 

 any, and the logwood-trees that grow in its 

 swamps. The cutting of timber forms the principal 

 industry, although the soil yields abundantly 

 cotton, sugar, and coffee. The chief exports are 

 mahogany and logwood, together with cochineal, 

 indigo, and sarsaparilla, which, however, are not 

 produced in the colony, but in the Central Amer- 

 ican states. Belize, the chief town, is in 17 30' 

 N. lat., and 88 8' W. long. 



Trinidad. 



This island, the next in importance to Jamaica 

 of the British West India possessions, is situated 

 at the mouths of the Orinoco ; being separated 

 from South America by the channel called the 

 Serpent's Mouth and the Gulf of Paria. It is 50 

 miles long, and 35 broad, with an area of 1755 

 square miles. It was discovered by Columbus 

 in 1498, and was colonised by the Spaniards in 

 1588, at which time it was well peopled with 

 Indians, who were of mild disposition and indus- 

 trious habits. These were soon either destroyed 

 or sent to the continent of America to work in 

 the mines. The island was taken by the British 

 in 1797, and has ever since belonged to this 

 country. 



Along the south and north sides of this island 

 run two ridges of mountains. The western side 

 for some distance is flat, and richly wooded. 

 The centre is diversified with finely wooded 

 hills and valleys of the greatest fertility. There 

 are numerous navigable rivers, and several excel- 

 lent harbours ; and anywhere in the gulf on the 

 west coast vessels may anchor in safety. Several 

 craters exist in Trinidad, some of which give 

 occasional indications of not being quite extinct 

 Mud-volcanoes also occur, the largest of which 



