90 JAMAICA. 



dually to very high mountains. This tra6t between the hills and 

 the coafl is, for the moil part, a fliallow Jlratum of mould upon 

 a white, hot marie. Here are the fugar-plantations, which with 

 good management bear moderate crops ; but the canes in general 

 ■are {hort-jointed, and, this part of the parish being fubjedl to 

 drowths (the high lands behind drawing off the rain), are often 

 ftunted in their growth ; for the foil in which they are planted is 

 naturally fo dry and warm, as to require plentiful and frequent ir- 

 rigations. Moft of the rivers here take their fource fo high, that 

 their water might eafily be difperfed in channels through the cane- 

 pieces. Some of the proprietors, I am informed, have lately had 

 this m contemplation ; and it would doubtlefs anfwer perfedlly 

 well. The hills contain but very few fugar-works. The mould 

 here is extremely fuperficial ; and underneath lies a deep vein of a 

 white marie, or hard chalk. The pimento loves this kind of foil; 

 and vafl woods of it overfpread the hills to a great diftance from 

 the coaft. Behind this range of hills and mountains the land is 

 diverfified with open, level favannahs, environed by rocky emi- 

 nences, or with little cock-pits. The foil of the latter is cu^l- 

 tivated fuccefsfully with Guiney grafs. The favannahs are covered 

 with fern, and applied to no ufe. There are three principal moun- 

 tain-roads which enter this parifli from the South fide. The road 

 hy Monte Diablo, in Sixteen- mile-walk, leads into it on the South- 

 Eaft part, and is a mere avenue cut through the woods, there 

 not beino- more than four or five fettlements on the whole road. 

 About five miles from Monte Diablo is the Rio Hoja, which, run- 

 ning about a mile and half from its firfl fpring, difcharges itfelf 

 into a large lake of immenfe depth. Some have affigned this as 

 the fource of the Cobre ; which is not improbable, as the river- 

 head and this body of water lie in exaft meridian, North and South. 

 The next road penetrates the centre of the parifh, by way of Old 

 Woman's Savannah, in Clarendon, through the fettlements of 

 Pedro, of which I have before given an account; and their number 

 Mattered on each fide renders tliis by far the pleafanteft way. After 

 leaving thefe fettlements about two miles, we come to a ftupen- 

 dous hill of folid rock, perfedly bare, and unadorned with either 

 plants or herbage. From this ftupendous mafs, to the neareft fet- 



5 tlement 



