BOOK II. CHAP. VIII. iig 



the Negroe-town in its neighbourhood by a flight ci re um dance un- 

 attended to at firfl. It is built on a fmall fpot of ground, which 

 the lea- breezes cannot reach without pnffnig over a little, inconfi- 

 derable brook of water, which produces fome aquatic plants always 

 covered with a putrid flime. It is certain, from conrtant expe- 

 rience, that places adjacent to a foul fhore, or flagnant waters, 

 near the coafl: in the Weft-Indies, are invariably unhealthful. But, 

 whatever be the caufe, it deferves a minute enquiry of gentlemen 

 of the faculty, in order to its difcovcry ; to the end that, if it 

 arifes from fome local evil, that cannot be remedied, the men misht 

 be lodged at night in convenient huts, ereded for them upon the 

 hill-fide ; by which means all of them, except thofe on immediate 

 duty in the fort, might enjoy a purer air, efpecialiy in thoie hours 

 when a depraved air is found to be moft pernicious ; for this is a 

 poft of fo much importance to the town, that the men ftationed 

 here ought neither to be diflieartened by apprehenlions, nor difablcd 

 by ficknefs, from doing their regular duty. The aflembly having 

 lately granted 1500/. for erefting barracks at this fort to contain 

 two hundred men; if the fituation be properly attended to, the re- 

 fult will fliew, whether the unhealthinefs of the garrifon has been 

 owing to a peftilent quality in the air, or fome other caule. 



To conclude with Kingfton. The militia of this town, both 

 horfe and foot, are well trained, uniformly drefled, and well armed, 

 at their own expence. The pains they take in learning tlie iieceiiary 

 manoeuvres, and the charges to which they are put in their equip- 

 ment, do great honour to their public fpirit, efpecialiy as molt of 

 them are independent in their circumfrances. It is thought, that, 

 upon emergency, they could mufter upwards of two thoufand 

 efFedlive Whites; and between four and five hundred efFeftive free 

 Blacks and Mulattoes, The companies of the latter caft are untier 

 the command of white officers, excellent in their difcipline, and 

 vvoijld probably do good fervice againft an enemy, whenever called 

 upon to give proof of it. 



Theparifh contains no fugar plantations, the fituation being too 

 dry to admit of any other fettlements than grafs-penns. The fol- 

 lowing may fervc to give fome idea of the ftate of it : 



Negroes, 



