BOOK ir. CHAP. VIII. 159 



liarbour that governor Stokes fettled in 1656, with his colony of 



Nevis planters. The governor fixed himfelf about two miles and 



a- half from the head of the harbour, wheie the plantation, called 



Stokes-hall, flill commemorates him. In 1671, notwithrtandlnt^ 



to 



the mortality v/hich had fwept off many of the firft planters, there 

 were upwards of fixty fettlements in this neighbourhood ; many of 

 Nvhich formed a line along the coaft Eaftward from the harbour, 

 where a'e only two or three at prefent. Point Morant, which is 

 the Eaftcrnmofl: end of the illand, is diftant between nine and ten 

 miles from Morant Harbour. Adjacent to the Point are near eight: 

 thoufand acres of very fine land, moftly a rich, black mould upon 

 a clay, at prefent inmorafs, and therefore negleiled ; but it is ca- 

 pable (by draining) of being converted into rich fugar-plantations ; 

 an example ofwhich has been iliewn in the Northern quarter of 

 it, bordering :upon Plantain Garden River, where an eilate, formed 

 out of the morafs not many years fince by this mode of improve- 

 ment, was lately fold for 105,000/, and is thought to be well 

 worth the money. The draining of this large tra6t would anfwcr- 

 the further good purpofe of rendering all the fettlements, that lie 

 to leeward of it, more healthy; and in procefs of time this may' 

 probably be accomplished. [/^i]. The road, continuing along the 

 Weft fide of the harbour, and running Noithwards about five 

 miles, terminates at the town of Bath, which is fortv-four miles 

 diftant from Kingfton, and about fixty from Spanilli Town. The 

 road from Kingfton was made partly by private fubicription, and 

 partly publick grants. As it pafles the whole way near the coaft, ,■ 

 aud through a variety of flourifliing Icttlement?, it is cheered with 

 a 'number of moft agreeable profpefts ; and, to render it more com- 

 modious for travellers, there are mile-ftones fixed all along. Since 

 the Bath has become a place of lefs refort than formerly, this road 

 has been too much negledlcd. Some parts of It were formed 



[i] About ten lengucs Soutlj-eart from the Point, or Cape .of Morant, lie the two Moraut 

 cayes, called by the Fiencl; Rai.ai. The North-eall cave is placci! in latitude 1 7° 26' North ; aud 

 the Soufh-wcll in 17*^ '20'. As they are dircvflly in the track of (hips coin in" down to Jamaica 

 from Europe, or the Windward Illands, great caution is ufed not toifall in. with them ire the.night- • 

 time. Not long fince, a Guiney-man was wrecked here. Btit .fuch accidents have verv rarely 

 happened. Under the Soutli \ve»1 cave there is good anchorage from five to eighteen fathom 

 watfeft- 



^v^th 



