66 JAMAICA. 



others more variegated. Thefe natural produdions are fo little en- 

 quired after here, that, I believe, they are even unknown to irvany : 

 yet the pains of colleding thofe mofl: in efteem might be rewarded 

 by the profit of vending them to Great-Britain. The mofl va- 

 luable Ipecies are the white-veined, the flefh-coloured, the red, 

 the pale-yellow, the dark-brown with black veins, and the green- 

 ifh-brown variegated. A few, which an ingenious gentleman of 

 this ifland brought with him to London, were greatly admired. 

 Ship-loads might be procured here at no other charge than that 

 of gathering them ; and by breaking a few, the beft fort might 

 beeafily difcovered. The temperature of the air in this extenfive 

 parifh is various. In the lowlands it is for the moft part warm 

 and dry ; and, among the mountains, cool, healthy, and invi- 

 gorating. Some of the low grounds adjoining the rich banks of 

 the Minho are unwholefome, and were fo reputed by the Spa- 

 niards; for, in times of drowth, this river, about ten miles diftance 

 from the coaft, begins firfl to bury its waters, leaving the channel 

 dry for a confiderable length ; then rifes again ; and fo continues 

 finking and emerging alternately until it difembogues. The mud 

 and weeds, thus left to ferment and turn putrid with the heat of the 

 fun, are fuppofed with good reafon to breed very noxious exhala- 

 tions ; and the known unhealthinefs of one or two eftates, which 

 border upon this part of it, cannot otherwife be accounted for. 

 The white inhabitants, or rather the proprietors of thefe eftates, 

 might probably be reHeved from this annoyance, by removing the 

 dwelling houfes to fome convenient eminence ; for it can never 

 be confident with health to fleep in a putrid atmofphere. The 

 flourifhing ftate of this parifli may be conceived from the following 

 table : 



Annual Produce. 

 I Hogllieads. | Other Settlemenrs. 



I 8000 I 180 



By which it appears that, in the number of Negroes and cattle, it is 

 much improved ; and, by the great quantity of produce, that it is 



in 



