44. JAMAICA, 



a vent for fo much at the market. But the great manufiiftory of 

 fait at Tortuga caufed this article to fall io cheap, that it has for 

 many years paft been difcontinued in Jamaica. This fak-pond is 

 about four feet in depth, and mod plentifully flocked with good 

 fifti ; which are a more profitable article of traffic to the prefent 

 owner, who fends them daily for ialc to Spauifl"! I'own, little more 

 than fix miles diifant. 



The parhhioners of St. Catharine, St. Thomas in the Vale, and 

 St. Dorothy, formerly exercifed a fort of right in common of 

 making fait here, for the ufe of their families : but, during the go- 

 vernment of Sir Thomas Lynch, they agreed with Sir Thomas- 

 Modiford, who had patented the circumjacent lands, that he fliould 

 deliver them annually at the rate of half a bulhel of fait per head,, 

 including Blacks and Whites, only not to exceed five thoufand 

 bufliels in the whole; for which they were to pay is. per bufhel. 

 This agreement was confirmed by an aft of aflembly, but has been 

 for many years difufed. 



About four miles North and North-wcff from the town is another 

 range of hills ; over which is fcattcred a great number of polinks, 

 or places applied entirely to the cultivation of garden- fluff, fruits, 

 and fuch fort of provifion, for the town-market. The range, dillin- 

 guiftied by the name of the Red Hills, from their reddilh foil, is 

 thought to produce the feveral Weft-India fruits, of a better flavour 

 than almoft any other part of the ifland. Many of the town-in- 

 habitants have little fettlements here, with good houfes, to which 

 they occafionally retire. No part of the world can enjoy a more 

 aoreeable or healthy air. The Spaniards formerly efteemed it a 

 Montpellier ; and numbers ufed to pafs over from Cuba, in order to 

 refide here for the re-eftablifhment of their health. From many 

 parts of thefe hills the profped is rich and extenfive, commanding 

 a view of the town, the paftures adjacent, the harbour and (hipping 

 at Port Royal, and of the vefl'els coming in or going out. Thefe 

 hills are deftitute of fprings ; but the inhabitants eafily fupply that 

 want by preferving rain-water in cifterns or jars, which they find 

 extremely pure and falubrious. 



The foil of St. Catharine's pari(h is various. The hills abound 



with lime-flone rock; the champaign confifts chiefly of favannah 



I land. 



