6i6 J A M A I C A. 



minute. It was tnofl violent at Kingfton, where it threw down fcveral 

 kitchen-chimnies, damaged ibme walls, and alarmed ths inhabitants 

 fo much, that many jumped out of the windows and piazzas one (lory 

 high, hy wjiich a tew were lamed, hut no lives hi\. Two or three 

 old huildings in the country were fliaken to pieces. Near the fea- 

 Coaft the agitation was ohferved to be greateft. In the Marine Hofpital 

 at Port Pvoyal were feveral bathing-tubs, which appeared to be ftrongly 

 artcdcd by the fhock ; the water undulated to and fro in them with 

 fo much violence as to da(h over the fides. It was preceded, as ufual, 

 with i'ultry weather and a rumbling noife. This earthqu .ke, happily 

 •fo little injurious to Jamaica, originated at HifpanioLi, where it was 

 «ccompanit;d with eruptions, and did infinite mifchief. The hardinefs 

 of thefugar-cane was fuffici.ntly evinced during the dry weather, it being 

 among the laft of the vegetable kind that perifhed. One good confe- 

 quence of the drought was, that fome perfons who had removed into 

 the woodlands to enjoy a moifter foil, and procure fuftenance for their 

 cattle, difcovered fuch advantages of fituation in thofe parts, as induced 

 them to eftablifli inland fettlements. '1 he value of the grafs farms at 

 Pedro's was alfo very confpicuous, for they proved the falvation of 

 many hundred head of cattle brought thither from the lowlands, 

 which fliewed the great utility of having fettlements in the mid diftridt 

 of the illand. The diftempers which followed on the change of 

 weather were moftly diarrhoeas among the Negroes; coughs, meafles, 

 iind remittent and putrid fevers. 



Violent earthquakes, accompanied with vapourous eruptions, have 

 always produced noxious effeds upon the health of thofe who have 

 been near the place of their breaking-out ; yet I cannot think that 

 they are the proximate caufe of any endemia, or peculiarly malignant 

 diforder. For if we fuppofe that fome quantity of mephitic air is 

 difcharged at every opening of the earth, this would fpeedily be cor- 

 •reded by the atmofpherical air. If putrid effluvia are emitted by 

 turning up the filthy m.ud of lagoons and other impure fediments in 

 ihailow water on the coaif, it imift then depend on the flatc of the 

 air fucceeding the (liock, how far thcfe noiTome fleams may difpofe to 

 a malignant hcknefs ; if the air continue perfedly fcrcne, it is probable 

 any fever contraded at that time would become malignant; but earth- 

 quakes are commonly, if not regularly, followed with wind or rain, 

 or both, which cffeduuUy purge the air of thcfe foulncfles. 



After the eartiiquake which happened here in 1692, a great fickn'efs 

 raged, whicli few or no families elcaped. The like conlequencc belel 

 the people of Ilifpaniola, after tic fliock and eruption abovementioned. 

 Kxj died from their ruined habitations, expofed to the inclemencies 



of 



