898 JAMAICA. 



if carried very young to the rich Guiney grafs paftures of the moun* 



tains, attain to a large growth, and produce aimoft equally good mules* 



347. Camel. 



Thefe animals were originally bred here, with a view of carrying 

 fugar and rum to the market, inftead of mules. Great expeftations 

 were formed from this projeft, as the camel was known to be far more 

 docile and traftable, and equal to bear much heavier burthens ; but, 

 upon trial, it appeared, that the roads were much too rocky for their 

 hoof; that the hills were too fteep, and that nature had defigned them 

 only for exteniive and level landy defarts. They anfwer no other 

 purpofe here at prefent, than that of terrifying horfes traveling the 

 roads, and caufing the overturn of carriages now and then. The hu- 

 manity of their owners preferves them from extirpation, though at the 

 hazard of many a man's neck. The young ones are fald to be good 

 meat, and often ufedas fuch by the inhabitants of thofe countries where 

 they are more common ; but the epicures of Jamaica have not yet 

 thought proper to Introduce this Afiatic dainty into their bill of fare. 



They attain here to their full growth ; and fome advantage might 

 doubtlefs be made, 'by annually (hearing their hair, at the time when 

 it has the longeft ftaple, in December, or January ; at prefent, they are 

 the moft ufelels animals belonging to this ifland. 



348. Dog-. 



The Engllfh breeds, Introduced here, degenerate In fize, but feem 

 to lofe no part of their more peculiar character, whether it confifts in 

 coui-age or fagaclty. The moft ufeful of the race are thofe belonging 

 60 the hog-hunters ; they feem to be a mongrel mixture between the 

 maftiff and greyhound, fv\Ift and fierce.; the brindled are efteemed 

 the heft. Thofe of the Spanilh breed poflefs the like qualities, are 

 much tnlkr, and have more of the greyhound make. The Negroes 

 dread them as much as the Indians formerly did, when the Spaniards 

 made ui'e of them for piirfult. 



I have feen feveral of the Gulney-breed here. They are about the 

 jfize of turn-fpits, of a jet-black colour, and cloathed with a fleek 

 fliinlng fkin, without a fmgle hair ; their appearance is extremely An- 

 gular, 



