158 JAMAICA. 



a great diftancc from the coaft, and called by feamen " The White 

 Horfes." The furf lets in here very high upon the beach, and 

 fometimes runs" up quite to the foot of the cliff; but, in general, 

 the fea is not lb boifterous as to p.cvent carriages from pafiing. 

 On leaving the fhore, the road becomes hilly for moft part of the 

 way, till we come to Moraut, which is about four miles to the 

 Ealhvard. The bay of Morant is a confiderable (hipping-place. 

 The road in which the fliips anchor is well defended h"om the fea 

 by a reef of rocks: the fiiore is lined with. ftores aiid v/are-houfes 

 at the bottom of a rifing ground, on vthich the village ftaiads, 

 which confifts of about thirty houfes, or more, as it comprehends 

 within its circuit the church, wh.ich is not tar diftant. This village 

 is growing faft into. a town, and indeed better deferves that appel- 

 lation than fome others in the ifland : the church is a handfome 

 building ; and adjoining is the parfonage, an exceedingly comfor- 

 table manfion : the ftipend annexed to this living is 250/.; but, 

 confidering the extent of the parifh, the rector's income is proba!)ly 

 not much fliort of from five to fix hundred ■poundi, fer afmum. There 

 are feveral circumftances which feem to finour the growth of a 

 town here. The foil is dry, the air healthy, and the water good 

 and in great plenty ; the Eaftern branch of Morant River fall 

 into the fea on one fide of the bay ; and the country behind, and 

 all around, is well-fettled and fertile. The (hipping are defended 

 by a fmall battery, kept in good repair. About five miles further 

 Eaftvvard, the road brings us to Port Morant, which is one of the 

 largefl: and mofl beautiful harbours in Jamaica. It runs up the 

 country about two niiles and a quarter; the entrance is about one 

 mile acrofs; but the channel dangerous to ftrangers, on account of 

 two reefs in the offing, wdiich have proved fatal to feveral fhips. 

 On the windward-fide, the land ranges pretty high, covered with 

 thick wood ; and, being flieltered on all fides by the main-land and 

 the reefs, it is always fecure, and has a good depth of water. The 

 entrance is defended by a fmall battery on the Eaft fide. The old 

 fort was erefted on the oppofite fide ; but it was ill-conftruded, and 

 efteemed not healthy [^]. It was in the neighbourhood of this 



[.i] Provifion has lately bepn pade by the affembly for rebuilding two forts, or batteries, one 

 "u ench fide the eatranco. 



"^ •''•■' harbour 



