BOOK II. CHAP. VIII. 169 



efpeclally if their huts arc placed on the levels, which are damp, 

 and annoyed by conftant exhalations. The planters have wifely 

 fixed their own habitations in general upon elevated fpots, in order 

 to be fecure from floods, which have fometimes been fo violent on 

 the lower grounds, as to fweep away buildings, cattle, and 

 Negroes. 



This parhh, it is apparent, has increafed very largely in its ftock 

 of Negroes and cattle ; and now contains near one hundred fettle- 

 ments. From the goodnefs of the foil, the number of rivers, and 

 plentiful fupplies of rain, it has the promifing appearance of be- 

 coming one of the mofi: populous and opulent in the whole ifland. 



SECT. VI. 



PORTLAND. 



THIS pariOi is bounded on tl.e Eafl and North by the fea ; 

 Weft, by St. George, and part of St. David ; and on the South 

 and South-Eaft, by St. Thomas. The adjuftment of its boundary, 

 as the whole was formerly included in the parifli of St. Thomas, 

 has occafioned many difputes between the two parifhes, both of 

 them laying claim to the inhabitants of Manchineel, in the South- 

 Eaft quarter; who, though a£lually within the boundary of Port- 

 land, have generally paid their taxes in tlie parifh of St. Thomas. 

 But the law, by which Portland was firft formed into a diftinft 

 parilh in the year 1723, exprefsly makes White River the South- 

 Eaft boundary ; and, this limitation having been ratified by clear 

 recitals in feveral fubfequent laws, there appears no authentic 

 Vol. II. Z ground 



