124 JAMAICA. 



are the majeftic Blue Mountains, rifing above one another in grada- 

 tion, till they feem to touch the clouds : on each fide, lively fields 

 of canes, intermixed with elegant villas and paftures : in front,, 

 the harbours of Kingfton and Port Royal, crowded with fhipping^ 

 fome at anchor, others plying in various diretflions : beyond thefe^, 

 the Healthftire hills in St. Catharine, gradually declining towards 

 Old Harbour : and, laftly, the horizon clofing on the beautiful 

 azure of the ocean. A number of little grafs-penns, with good 

 houfes on them, are difperfed about the neighbourhood, chiefly 

 the property of merchants in Kingfton, who occafionally retire to 

 them from the hurry of bufinefs. But its chief ornament is- a very 

 magnificent houfe, erefted here a few years fince by Mr. Pinnock ; 

 which may vie, in the elegance of defign, and excellence of work- 

 man(hip, with many of the beft country-icats in England. The 

 ftone uled about this fabrick was brought from the Hope river- 

 eourfe: it is far more beautiful than the Portland, and of a clofeit 

 an<l finer grain. The mahogany- work and ornaments within have 

 been juftly admired for tlieir fingular beauty, being, as I am in- 

 formed, feletled with great expence. Half-way Tree has a fmall,. 

 but very neat church, with a tower and organ. The emoluments 

 of the reftory, arifing principally from fix hundred acres of rich, 

 glebe-land, leafed advantageoudy to fome planters, are faid to be 

 about J 4.00L per annum. The ftipend being only 200/. of this 

 country money, it may eafily be judged that the glebe is extremely 

 valuable; and this is therefore confidered as the beft. living in the 

 governor's prefentation. Some years ago, there was a regular 

 weekly aflembly held here ; but it has fince been difcontinued, till 

 lately, when it was revived, and thought inferior to none in the 

 ifiand. The village- contains about twelve or fourteen houfeSv 

 i^affing on from hence to the Northward about two miles, along 

 a road of eafy afcent, we come to the foot of the Liguanea Mounr 

 tains: tiiefe are the firft fleps leading up to that va(t pile of moun- 

 tains which range through the ifland from Eaft to Weft. The 

 foremoft are of moderate height, fervlng ,as natural buttrefles to 

 fuftain the interior and more mafiive. As we proceed, they feem 

 to increafe in magnitude and elevation, till we arrive at the higheft 

 of all, called the Blue Mountain Ridges. The foil on their South 



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