B O O K II. C HAP. IX. 201 



duce of Weftmoreland, befides fome of what belongs to St. Eli* 

 zabeth and Hanover, is (hipped from this port. Underneath the 

 court-houfe, or hall of jultice, are the barracks, capable of re- 

 ceiving feventy men, and garrifoned with a company of the re- 

 gulars. The fituation, in point of health, is by no means ap- 

 provable ; for to the Weftward of it lies a tra£t of undrained mo- 

 rafs, at leafl: feven miles in length, which at certain times of the 

 year cannot fail of producing milchievous eft"e6ls. It is overfpread 

 with mangroves, and below the level of the fea, and therefore 

 not ealily to be drained. Cabarito Eaft River difcharges its ftream 

 into it, and contributes by this means not only to feed the lagoon- 

 water, but in fome degree to refrefh it. Whether the river could 

 be converted into a drain, by banking and retrieving the ground ou 

 each fide, is a point I cannot determine; but it may be worth ex- 

 amination. This river has two good bridges of timber acrofs it, 

 and is navigable in boats about twelve miles inland to a public bar- 

 quadier at Paul's ifland. The land on which the town is built is 

 flat and low, fubje£l therefore to thofe exceflive heats and putrid 

 vapours, which, in the months of July and Auguft, occaiioa fatal 

 maladies in habits unfeafoned to fuch places of refidence. In 1768, 

 a very neceffary acl was palled, the better to fecure this town from 

 accidents by fire. Coopers were prohibited from making fires ex- 

 cept within an inclofed yard, furrounded by a brick or flone-wall 

 of eight feet height, having only one door, and that placed to the 

 Weftward ; and the magiflrates were empowered to caufe all huts 

 and other buildings covered with thatch to be pulled down. The 

 hamlet of Queen's Town ftands about two miles North from Sa- 

 vannah la Mar. It confifts of a few houfes tolerably well built; 

 but is a place of no note as yet. This is more ufually called Beck- 

 ford Town, or Savannah, the land having been given in lots of 

 from five to twenty acres by the late Richard Beckford, efq; and 

 regularly laid out for ftrcets, with a large fquar.e left in the centre 

 for a church. At the Well: end, between the two capes of Negril, 

 is Long Bay; where is good anchorage, and fhelter from tem- 

 peftuous winds. It is conveniently fituated for our men of -war, 

 during any rupture with Spain, to lie in wait for the Spanifli veflcls 

 paffing to or from the Havaunah ; and here admiral Bembow col- 

 VoL. 11. D d leftcd 



