BOOK II. CHAP. VIII. 129 



" road ; perhaps it has been p-opagated from fome plant, either ca- 

 fually dropped, or put in by defign ; but it is remarkable, that it 

 grows, though in a very fterile foil, as luxuriantly as we find it in 

 any Englifh garden. The bill-berries are chiefly feen on the 

 higher eminences ; but they are exceedingly numerous in fuch 

 ipots; and the black-berries not at all different from thofe of Eng- 

 land, either in fize, or the mawkifli fvveetnefs of their tade. Cock- 

 roaches were not expecfted to be feen here : it is true, they are very 

 fcarce; and, 1 incline to believe, not aborigines of a region fo un- 

 fuitable to their nature, from its coolncfs; but probably brought 

 hither from Kingfton in fome of the packages of bottled liquor, or 

 provifions, which it is ufual for the parties to take with them, who 

 vifit this retreat for the fake of health or curiofity. That the flate 

 of the atmofphere is generally very cool, I think there can be no 

 doubt, llnce it has been found fo in the month of July ; and I have 

 been informed, that, during the other hot months, the ditfeience 

 between the thermometer here and at Kingfton is commonly twenty 

 to thirty degrees. The birds that were (hot did not begin to fmell 

 till after the fourth day. A North wind almoft conftantly blows, 

 and Ibmetimes with great violence, when the vapours far below 

 are failing along with an Eafterly breeze, and the (hips {landing in 

 for the harbour with that breeze right-aftern. The tranfition from 

 the heated air of the low lands caufes the chill to be the more fen- 

 fibly felt by thofe who remove to this elevation; the fenfation 

 therefore is not at all wonderful. A fire is found neceflary, even in 

 July, in the evening ; and fome perfons have hardly been able to keep 

 themfelves warm enough in bed with two blankets. The butter, 

 which at Kingflon was in a liquified flate, became fo firm in one 

 night's time, that a knife, fluck into it, lifted the faucer in which 

 fome of it had been put. But the coldnefs of the air is cliiefly di- 

 llrefling to the Negroes and horfes ; they quickly grow fluggifh and 

 miferable; the latter in particular, although flimulated by extreme 

 third, have been known to refufe tafling the fpring-water for fe- 

 veral days, which was perfeftly pure and tranfparent, but too 

 frigid for them. Exercife is attended with no fatigue; it ferves 

 only to keep the body in a comfortable glow. The fleep afcents 

 are climbed on foot in the middle of the day, without inconve- 

 VoL. II. S nience ; 



