104 J A M A I C A. 



and a half. The town, being thus fituated on a dry foil, is not in- 

 commoded by the lodgement of water in the heavieft rains ; and 

 it is thoroughly ventilated by the daily fea-breeze. But, although 

 the flope prevents any water from ftagnating in the town, it is at- 

 tended with one great inconvenience; for it admits an eafy pailiige 

 to vafl torrents, which colle£l in the gullies at fome diftance to- 

 wards the mountains after a heavy rain, and fometimes rulh with 

 fo much impetuofity down the principal ftreets, as to make them 

 almoft impaflable by wheel-carriages, and caufe a Oioal-water at 

 the wharfs, depofiting accumulations of rubbifli and mud: by 

 which means, the navigation of the harbour may, in procefs of 

 time, be obflrudted ; for even now the channel is greatly contradled, 

 an entire ftreet having been built on the foil thus gained upon the 

 harbour fince the town was firrt laid out. Some have propofed to 

 remedy this, inconvenience by cutting a large trench Eaft and Weft 

 above the town, to intercept thefe floods, and condu6l them into 

 fmaller cuts, on each fide of it, quite to the harbour ; by which 

 method, the water, having a greater length of current, and not 

 flowing fo rapidly, might depofite its foil by the way, and thus 

 neither annoy the ftreets, nor fill up the harbour. But it may be 

 obje£ted to this projeft, that, if any ftagnant water, or a quantity 

 of mud, Ihould remain in thefe drains, the effluvia arifing from 

 them might affed the health of the inhabitants, and fo become 

 produftive of a worfe injury than what it was calculated to pre- 

 vent. The remarks before-made, refpefting the modern method 

 of covering roofs in Spanifh Town, are equally applicable to King- 

 iton. The danger from fire is very manifeft. It is true, that ac- 

 cidents of the fort have rarely occurred in this town, the kitchens 

 being detached buildings. But it is flill liable to fuch a calamity 

 from malice, as well as negledt or cafualty ; and the fate of Port 

 Royal, of Bridge Town in Barbadoes, and St. John's in Antigua, 

 fhould ferve as horrible examples. To guard againft fuch ravages, 

 in fome degree, here are wells and pumps in every principal flreet, 

 conveniently placed, and conftantly kept in good order -, and in the 

 court-houfe are fire-engines and leathern buckets. The ready af- 

 fifliance of feamen from the fhips, which lie very near the town, 

 .would doubtlefs contribute much towards preferving it in fuch 



events ; 



