4B JAMAICA. 



leeward parfs of the ifland, over a funken bridge of large timber- 

 work and ftoncs. It is here but a Imall flream ; but it widens on 

 approaching the harbour, and becomes deep enough to adrxilt tiic 

 Ihips long-boats which cooie here for water. Near the mouth of 

 it are caught exceeding fine jew-fi(h and calipever, for the Spanifii 

 Town market. The foil adjacent to it is extremely rich ; and 

 large trafts are capable of being watered by channels drawn from 

 the river, and cultivated witli the fugar-cane; but hitherto no fuch 

 advantage has been made of either. The foil of this parifti in ge- 

 neral relembles that of St. Catharine, and lies under the like mif-. 

 fortune of uncertain feafons ; for which realbn, it has never made 

 any coniiderable figure as a fugar-parifh. 



The hilly parts of it towards the North abound in pimento- 

 trees; which fliews their foil well-adapted to this produdion, 

 though it is not extenfively attended to here, for want of inhabi- 

 tants. The air of the coaft is but indifferent : the interior parts 

 are efleemed more healthy ; and particularly the hills, where it rs 

 perfedlly clear and temperate. 



In the mountains near St. John's is an exceedingly fine chalybeate- 

 fpring, which has performed many furprifuig cures in droplical ha- 

 bits ; and in cafes where, by lingering and ill-managed intermit- 

 tents, the patient was too relaxed and emaciated, the blood impo- 

 veri(hed, and the tone of the flomach much impaired. Some have 

 been known to recover from a dropfy by the ufe of it, after being 

 feveral times tapped. The eftate in which it -rifes having been, a 

 few years ago, lold by Mr. Harris, the former proprietor, the pur- 

 chafer, either through ignorance, or for fome other reafon, caufed 

 a bank to be dug down, at the foot of which it had ufed to be 

 taken up. It now lies covered by a load of foil and rubbifh feveral 

 feet in depth ; fo that the public are at prefent unhappily deprived 

 of this providential remedy. It is much to be lamented, that the 

 many excellent mineral and medicinal waters in this ifland, diftri- 

 buted here by the benevolent Father of mankind, on purpofe as it 

 were to adminifter an eafy relief under fome of the mofl excru- 

 ciating ailments, fhould have fallen fo little under the public care, 

 that, excepting the bath in St. Thomas, I do not know of one that 

 has been thought worthy of the Icgiflative attentioti. 



The 



