2 * JAMAICA. 



titude, and in 76° 45' longitude, Weft from London. It flands 

 about ten miles Weftward of Port Royal ; eleven from Kingfton, 

 by the way of Paflage" Fort ; and about eighteen by the road of 

 Halfway-Tree, in St. Andrew's. It is laid by fome authors to have ' 

 been founded by Chriftopher Columbus, whofe family took the 

 ducal title of la Vega from it. Other accounts, with more ap- 

 pearance of probability, aflert, that it was built by Diego, the fon 

 of Chriftopher, about the year 1520. The accounts given us of 

 its magnitude and opulence are ftirongly fufpefted of exaggeration. 

 Some writers inform us, that it contained above two thoufand 

 houfes, fixteen churches and chapels, and one abbey, before THe 

 invafion under Penn and Venables; and that the Englifh foldiers 

 exercifed their 'prowel^^ thefe edificfes with fo furious a zeal, 



as to leave only two churches and about five hundred houfes un- 

 demolifhed [«]. Other authors, with more appearance of cre- 

 dibility, relate, that it contained one thoufand feven hundred houfes, 

 two churches, two chapels, and one .abbey : but even this ac- 

 count allows pretty largely for the Spanifli or white inhabitants; 

 who, according to the moft- certain information of the Englifii 

 officers who went over with the army, and afterwards fettled here, 

 did not exceed fifteen hundred. : fo that, if thefe writers are to be 

 believed, the houfes out-numbered the inhabitants. The Englifh 

 army eftablifhed their head-quarters here ; and, as they had oc- 

 cafion for mofl: of the lioufes that were habitable, we muft: fuppofe 

 tliat they only pulled down thofe of an inferior clafs, together with 

 the religious edifices, which, as far as their ruins and tradition can 

 afford evidence, confided of an abbey and two churches, the one 

 called the Red, and the other the White Crofs. There is reafon to 

 believe, that, after the 'j^at of government was transferred to Port 

 Royal, the town of St. Jago became thinned of inhabitants, who 



[a"] This is Hjckeringell's account. He was the eai-Iieft writer on the affairs of this ifland, and 

 himfelf in the army at the time of the conqticft under Venables ; but it is pollible, that he might 

 have eftimated the num'.er ot houfes by conjefture only, or been mifmformed. According to the 

 beft teftimonies, the whole Englifh army, at the time of their entering the town, did not confiil 

 of more than about nine thoufand, including a regiment of marines. Allowing therefore ten to 

 each houfe, when they were in quarters (which, confidering the fmallnefs of thefe edifices, may 

 be reckoned full fufficieni), the number they fpared from dellruilion may be fuppofed about nine 

 hundred, for the accommodation of the officeis and men. 



gradually 



