BOOK II. CHAP. VII. 91 



tlcment on the North fide of the parifli, is about two miles furtlier. 

 Tlie third road enters the Weft quarter of the parifli, by way of 

 Clarendon. After running about five miles before it reaches any 

 fettlement, it branchcb into two forks; one of which pafles on to 

 Runaway Bay; the other, to Dry Harbour. From the entrance, 

 by Clarendon, to the range of hills near the coaft of St. Anne, is 

 about twelve miles; the road is enlivened with a very few human 

 habitations, and thofe Icattered. This traft, from its being fo 

 little inhabited, was called Siberia : yet it is not in other refpe^fts 

 deferving that appellation ; for it is full of excellent timber, and 

 furnifhes a vaft quantity of mahogany every year, the vifitors of 

 this part being chiefly cutters. The diftrift of the parifli, inter- 

 fe6ted by thefe three avenues, comprehends near one hundred 

 and eighty thoufand acres, as yet unfettled. In fo vaft a fpace 

 there muft needs be a very great variety of foil,, and num- 

 berlefs fpots of very fine cultivable land. But, exclufive of a few 

 fern favannahs, the whole of it is in its primitive foreft, full of large 

 cedar, mahogany, and other valuable timber-trees. The foil, 

 over which the roads pafs, is in general a reddiftj fat clay, intern- 

 mixed with mould, or a black-fliell mould; and, fo far as fet- 

 tlements are formed, it is experienced to be exceedingly fertile, 

 being refreflied with conftant dews and frequent fhowers. The 

 rain does not defcend here in fuch violent ftreams as in the low 

 country, but for the moft part in a fine fpray or drizzle ; and the 

 air is, during the whole year, cool, temperate, and perfeclly 

 healthful. Here then appears a defireable field for introducing new 

 colonies of induftrious people; as a leading meafure to which, 

 fbme new roads are required, to penetrate through this defart traft, 

 and open a communication with the parts already fettled. The air 

 of the coaft is hot, and in general tolerably healthful. 



Near Ocho Rios, or, as it is now more commonly called, Che- 

 reirasBay, in this parifli, the road from St. Mary pafTes through 

 Walter's plantation to the Wcftward, up a fteep hill. This road, 

 having been gullied very much about eleven years ago, by a heavy 

 fall of rain in OcStober, the fkeleton of an Indian was laid bare to 

 view, about five feet below the furface. The foil here is a white 

 coarfe marie, which certainly did not poflefs the corrofive qualities 



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