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JAMAICA. 



which chiefly affaiilt perfons newly arrived from a cold Northern 

 climate. There is no country in the torrid zone better furnin-icd 

 than Jamaica with retreats of this kind ; the hills being fcattered 

 every where very liberally near the coaft, and univerfally healthful. 

 The inhabitants of Spanilh Town have the neighbouring Red Hills ; 

 the people of Kingfton are near the Liguanea Mountains; and in 

 every part of thefe tracts, the air is pure, temperate, and fahibrious,, 

 during the whole year. The inhabitants of thefe mountains not 

 only enjoy good health, but a fure indication of it in the freflinefs 

 of their complexions ; and they are ftrangers to thofe deleterious' 

 difteiTipers which fometimes ravage the towns. Tlie barrack ac 

 Stoney Hill in this parifli affords a flriking proof of the goodncfs of 

 this air. The company of foldiers quartered here were frefh from. 

 Europe, and luckily did not halt long enough at Kinglton to con- 

 tra<fl ficknefs. The whole garrifon continued in perfeft health (and 

 only one died, which happened, as I was informed, by a cafualty) 

 tiJl long after their arrival, when they were removed to Kingfton ;. 

 where probably, not more from the change of air, than the greater 

 facility of procuring fpirituous liquors, they grew fickly, and re« 

 duced in their number. No climate can be more propitious to Eu- 

 ropean conftltutions than thefe elevated fpots j but the perfons who 

 for the moft part emigrate to the ifland have not any choice ot 

 place for their future refidence, and of courfe they take their chance.^ 

 Yet I cannot but think, that fuch as have weathered a feafoning 

 in Kingfton, and lived there fo long as to have it in their power 

 to chufe an occafional place of abode in a more eligible fituation 

 liere, Ihould confult their own future health, and that of others 

 fent over to their patronage and employment, and purchafe or rent 

 a fmall fettlement fomewhere among thefe mountains, to ferve for 

 a retreat during the moft fickly times of the year. But men edu- 

 cated and engaged in the bullle of commerce are too apt to de- 

 fpife thefe cautions, as fpeciilative and chimerical. Many are pre- 

 dcftinarians in their way of thinking, aad will not ftcp afide one 

 inch to avoid a falling rock; and others are unwilling to lofe a 

 fmgle hour which may be employed in the purfuit of money, too 

 inattentive to the purfuit of health, without which their labours are, 

 iu relped to their own enjoyments, but vain and illufory. Hence 



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