BOOK IL CHAP. VII. 43 



face of the earth, and environed them with ftones or bricks. Thcfe 

 rocky chafms and cavities, frequent in many parts of Jamaica, na- 

 turally offered as convenient and durable fepuichies. But this con- 

 je>5ture, though ingenious, is not lupported by any proof, that the 

 Indians of this ifland were governed by the fame cufrom. There 

 are better grounds for fuppoiing, that they interred their dead ; and 

 that the bones, found in thefe places, are no other than the relicks 

 of the lafi: remnant of that unfortunate people, who periflied here 

 beneath the infupportable tyranny of their conquerors, as I fhall 

 hereafter take occafion to relate. 



Spanifli Town is defended on the South by a range of hill, called 

 Heakiifliixe, corruptly Hellfhire, about nine miles in length, and fix 

 in breadth ; which Ipace contains about thirty-four thoufand acres, 

 for the mod part io rocky and barren, as not to be worth inha- 

 biting. Its chief produce is lime ; which is made here in large 

 quantities, and fent by v/atcr to Kingdon. The air on thefe hills 

 is extremely healthy : the rocks are concealed from view by innu- 

 merable aromatic herbs, flirubs, and trees, polielTed of great medi- 

 cinal virtues, though hitherto explored only by a few curious per- 

 fons. This whole difrrid: is filled with the larger fpecies of mock- 

 bird, whofe lively notes ferve to chear its dreary vales. The cu- 

 ratoe and aloes grow here very luxuriantly; and fome experiments 

 have been made, by a gentleman who lived here, with the filk-grafs 

 and grape-vines, which were found to thrive extremely well. The 

 foil is alfo productive of potatoes, yams, and other Weft-India roots, 

 and all the melon tribe, in great perfection. There is an exceeding 

 good fifliery on the coaft ; but the w^^nt of water-fprings, there 

 being only one, that I have heard of, in the wdiole tra6l, and the 

 few articles of profit to be gained from fuch a foil, will probably 

 be the means of its remaining for the moft part in a ftate of na- 

 ture. The ridge of high land, part of this trad, which faces Port- 

 Royal harbour, is called Salt-pond Mill, from a large piece of lalt- 

 vvater on the South Weft fide of it, covering near (even hundred 

 acres. This was formerly a falt-work ; which, with two more in 

 the parifh of St. David, was conduced by a captain Jofeph Noye, 

 who made from them in one year ten thouland bu/hels, and af- 

 firmed, that he could have made as many tons, if there had been 



G 2 a vent 



