BOOK II. CHAP. VII. 7, 



The land on both fides the Minho in this parifh was once famous 

 for the number of indigo works fettled upon it; all of which are 

 now extindl. It is chiefly cultivated in canes : the almoft-level 

 trad, which continues from the fea to the mountains of Clarendon, 

 about fixtecn miles in length, by about fourteen in width in the 

 broadeft part (exclufive of the fugar-works), is chiefly employed in 

 cattle and fheep paftures. The Weflern quarter of the parifh in- 

 cludes a range of high land called Carpenter's Mountains ; on the 

 Eaftern fide of which are fome few lettlements, but the greater 

 part remains uninhabited : acrofs one of the higheft pitches, named 

 May-day Hill, runs the Leeward road, by which, after pafilng fe- 

 veral miles of wood, we come to a good tavern, built here for the 

 accommodation of travelers; this being the principal communi- 

 cation on the South fide between the windward and leeward pa- 

 riflies. The air of thefe mountains is exceedingly cool and 

 healthy ; and their foil in general very fertile ; which may be 

 judged from the {lately trees that grace each fide of the road. 

 In fome part of thefe mountains (I do not vouch for the truth of 

 the ftory) is fiiid to be a perpendicular chafm, the diameter of 

 whofe mouth is only a few feet, and the depth of it unfathomable. • 

 The following fingular phenomenon is reported of it : that, al- 

 ternately in the fpace of every twenty-four hours, it emits and inhales 

 a ftrong body of air or vapour ; and that if, at the time of the in- 

 draught, a fmall bird, or other light body, fhould be thrown 

 within the vortex, it would be irrefiftibly drawn in, and never more 

 make its appearance above ground. On the South of thefe moun- 

 tains, the old road to Leeward pafles near the coaft from this - 

 parifh to Black River in St. Elizabeth ; but it has been feldom ufed 

 fince the track was formed acrofs May-day Hill, which is a much ' 

 fafer and better way. 



The low lands of Vere are, for the moft part, hot and parched ; . 

 but the air is reckoned not unwholefomc, except near the morafles, - 

 which border on Peake Bay and Weft Harbour. Vere has long 

 been famous for producing the finefl mutton, turkeys and other 

 poultry, in the ifland ; and with thefe it trafficks largely in the 

 towns. It produces vail: annual crops of Guiney corn, and pulfe 

 of various kinds, which form the chief part of fubfiflence for the 



Negroes, 



