202 JAMAICA. 



Jefted his fquadron in i 702, when he was looking out for Du Cafle, 

 It is not as yet made convenient for fliipping of produce, being 

 rendered ahnoft inacceflible on the land-fide by means of a large 

 morafs, extending the whole length, comprehending upwards of 

 fix thoufand acres, which in time may probably be drained and 

 cultivated, as the Black Morafs which lies near the centre of the 

 parifh has fuccefsfully been. It contains large quantities of grafs, 

 boar-wood, Santa Maria thatch, and mountain cabbage trees; and 

 is interfperfed with fmall lilands, full of bread-nut and other hard 

 timber trees, and fome mahogany ; which prove the foil to-be very 

 deep and rich. Three flreams, or rivulets, take their rife in it, 

 and empty themfelves at Negril Harbour, and Long Bay. When 

 the wind fets hard-in upon this part of the coafl from Weft and 

 North-Weft, they are frequently repelled ; and by this means 

 overflow the lower grounds. Yet the draining of this tra6t appears 

 extremely pradlicable, and by means of the rivers, if proper flood- 

 gates and banks were formed, after the method pradtifed on the 

 flat coafts of Lincolnfliire and Suftex. The Eaftern range of the 

 morafs has a fine, fubftantial cky ; but the part neareft the fea is of 

 a loofer texture, though poflibly it might become more folid, if it 

 could be reclaimed from the water, which at prefent faps and oozes 

 through it. It is the refort of wild pigeons, and hogs, in great 

 abundance ; and the rivulets are ftored with plenty of excellent fifti 

 and land-turtle. 



This parifh has a chapel for performing divine fervice, though 

 fcarcely opulent and populous enough to afford a good church. The 

 chapel is built witli timber, and ftands in the favannah, about the 

 diftance of one mile from the town of Savannah la Mar. 



Some years ago, there was an exceeding good church, of white 

 free-ftone, built in the form of a crofs, about feven miles from the 

 bay : but the parifhioners falling into a violent difpute, whether 

 they (hould repair it, or ereft a new one at Savannah la Mar, the 

 roof was unable to wait the ifl'ue, but tumbled in ; and, the point 

 not having fince been brought to a final determination, it remains 

 a ftately ruin, to add one proof more to the million of the deplo- 

 rable effefts which attend religious fquabbles. As the two parties 

 could not agree, the church (which formerly was no uncommon 



cafe) 



