554 



JAMAICA. 



bolder in their outline till they join the high 

 in the centre of the island, where they are covered 

 with immense forests of cedur. The soil on this 

 side is generally a chalky marl, producing a rich 

 verdure, similar to that of an English lawn, and 

 watered by un immense number of rivulets and 

 CMeades. 



The interior of the island has quite a different 

 appearance from either side, presenting all the var- 

 ieties of feature peculiar to a highland district ; in 

 some parts rugged, ditlicult of access, and densely 

 wooded ; in others spreading out into a wide ex- 

 panse of table land or elevated plain, from which 

 rise a number of small hummocks, giving a slight 

 undulation to the surface. The ground in such 

 spots is generally clear and open, covered with 

 rich grass, and of a pastoral character. These 

 regions, in which cultivation has made but little 

 progress, are principally used for the rearing of 

 cattle. 



As these portions of the island present varieties 

 in physical aspect, so they exhibit a corresponding 

 diversity in climate. On the plains or sea-coast 

 of the south side, the thermometer at noon does 

 not vary more than 8 or 9 throughout the year, 

 its greatest height being about 92, and the lowest 

 83. The mid-day heat on both sides of the 

 island is greatly modified by the influence of the 

 sea breeze, which generally sets in from the east- 

 ward about eight or ten o'clock in the morning, 

 increases in force till about two, arid declines with 

 the sun, until, on the approach of evening, it is 

 succeeded by the land wind from the mountains. 

 When these winds become less regular, or alto- 

 gether fail, as is sometimes the case before the 

 rainy season, the atmosphere is exceedingly oppres- 

 sive to the feelings, though the thermometer per- 

 haps exhibits but little change in the temperature. 

 The quantity of rain which falls throughout the 

 year is about fifty inches. 



The high lands in the interior of the island pos- 

 sess a very different climate from that of either 

 side, their great elevation producing a correspond- 

 ing diminution of temperature, which would be 

 still more perceptible, were it not that the sea 

 breeze, which modifies the heat of mid-day in the 

 low country, does not extend to the mountains, 

 and is even but partially felt at the distance of a 

 few miles from the coast. It is consequently in the 

 morning and evening that the diminution of tem- 

 perature is most felt in the high grounds ; at which 

 periods it sometimes exceeds 25. 



In this island almost any variety of climate may he 

 procured. At a residence 4200 feet above the level 

 of the sea, the range of the thermometer is from 

 55 to 65 ; in the winter it falls even as low as 

 44. There the vegetation of the tropics disap- 

 pear, and is supplanted by that of temperate 

 regions. Showers are common in the interior 

 almost throughout the whole year, but they do not 

 fall with the same violence as in the plains, and 

 the quantity of rain appears to be less. The air 

 is exceedingly humid, subject to dense fogs, and 

 those rapid alternations of temperature peculiar to 

 all mountain regions. 



The troops here consist of white and black regi- 

 ments. Of the former the numbers employed have 

 varied from 1895 to 3285, according to' circum- 

 stances ; the average garrison has been 2578. The 

 number who have died in the course of twenty 

 years has been 6596, exhibiting an average annual 

 mortality of 128 per thousand; and it is rather re- 



markable that, if the mortality from 1803 to 181(1 

 be taken on the same principle, it amounts to !'-!? 

 per thousand, so tlmt the climate lias presented 

 exactly the same fatal character ever since ISO-. 

 Even so far back as 1655 the deaths among the 

 troops during the sickly season amounted to 140 

 per week, and, some years later, out of 800 who 

 arrived two-thirds died within a fortnight. 



Of the 6596 deaths recorded between 1M17 and 

 1837, the causes and place of disease of 6254 only 

 can be ascertained : the rest consist of accidental 

 deaths, or of those which took place on detachment 

 where there was no medical officer to record the 

 disease. 



An investigation into the extent of mortality at 

 each station shows that all are by no means equally 

 unhealthy; nay, some approach in salubrity to the 

 climate of Britain. 



The following Table sufficiently establishes this 

 fact, as well as demonstrates the extremely varia- 

 ble character of the climate, by showing the rela- 

 tive influence of mortality in each year, at the 

 principal stations throughout the island. 



Out of every 1000 Troops at the underwent mud Htn!inni. the 

 following proportions have died in each year J ruin 1817 In 

 1836 inclusive. 



Jamaica is ruled by a governor, or captain -gen- 

 eral, (appointed by the crown), aided by a council 

 of twelve, somewhat similar to the house of lords; 

 and a house of assembly, answering to the home 

 house of commons. The council is generally 

 appointed by the king, through the secretary of 

 state for the colonies, from among the most re- 

 spectable colonists who are ex-officio justices of 

 the peace. The lieutenant-governor, chief justice, 

 attorney-general, and the bishop, are all ex-officio 

 members of the council, each member of which is re- 

 movable at the pleasure of his majesty. The 

 Assembly consists of forty-five members, each of 

 the parishes sending two representatives; and 

 Spanish Town, Kingston, and Port Royal, one 

 additional member each ; a representative must 

 possess a freehold of 300 per annum* in any part 

 of the island, or a personal estate of 3000 ; an 

 elector must be of age, and possessed of a free-hold 

 of 10 per annum in the parish for which he 



* Such was the law, but it has not been attended to. 





