514 JAMAICA. 



fevers of the putrid clafs, than chearful company. The fituation of 

 the other towns is but indifferent ; but the inhabitants of all have 

 their places of retreat, if they could but refolve to make ufe of 

 them. For Old Harbour there are the Goat Iflands, and the Hills 

 of St. Dorothy. Savannah la Mar is at no great diftance from hills 

 and rifing grounds ; Lucea and Montego Bay are furrounded with 

 high lands ; at the latter place, in particular, the flat fpace for build- 

 ing is fo circumfcribed, that, as the town enlarges, the houfes muft: 

 be built on higher ground, along the fides of the contiguous hill; 

 which circumftance will one day contribute to render it populous 

 and flourifhing. The lower part of Kingfton, next the harbour, 

 having been founded upon foil recovered from the water, is too 

 much pent up with the fliipping that lie near the wharfs, and with 

 warehoufes and goods, to be eligible for paffing the night. Befides, 

 the mud near this quarter, whenever it is difturbed, either by the 

 violence of the furge in high breezes, or by the oars, poles, or boat- 

 hooks of navigators, is apt to emit a very putrid and unwholefome 

 flench i fuch fitiiations may either generate bad fevers, or exafperate 

 the fymptoms of thofe diforders which otherwife might eafily be 

 conquered. 



Throughout this ifland, wherever we turn our eyes, it appears fb 

 crowded with hills and rifing grounds, ventilated always with a free 

 and falubrious air, that we cannot but condemn thofe perfons, who 

 chufe low, damp, and fultry hollows, for their conflant reildence ; 

 and who often fufFer from the ill effedls caufed by fuch fituations, 

 without difcerning the real fource of their bad health : but in time, 

 perhaps, when the importance of this matter comes to be more 

 ferioufly attended to, the planters will allow more weight to thofe 

 particulars in the oeconomy of health; which reafon and experience 

 combine to recommend. 



Thofe whom fortune has bleft with abundance, fhould be ftudi- 

 -ous to preferve the lives of their dependents, whofe poverty perhaps 

 is their greateft crime. The cruelty of expofing the lives of men to 

 ficknefs or death, by re ft riding them to dwell in wretched hovels, 

 and on unhealthy ipots, needs only to be pointed out, inorder to be 

 relieved. The natural generofity, and benevolent difpofition, of the 

 planters will immediately lead them toadminillerthe certain remedy, 

 3 although 



