174 On Guinea Gras^» 



*' zing farms or pens * throughout the Island, were 

 ** origmally created, and are still supported chiefly by 

 ** means of this invaluable herbage. Hence the plenty 

 '^^ of horned cattle both for the butcher and planter, 

 ** which is such, that few markets in Europe can fur- 

 '* nish beef at a cheaper rate or of better quality than 

 "Jamaica. Perhaps the settlement of most of the 

 *^ north side parishes is wholly owing to the introduc- 

 *' tion of this excellent grass, which happened about 

 ** 50 years ago, the seeds having been brought from 

 *' the coast of Guinea, as food for some birds which 

 " were presented to Mr. Ellis, chief justice of the Is- 

 ** land. Fortunately the birds did not live to consume 

 ** the whole stock, and the remainder being carelessly 

 " thrown into a fence grew and flourished, and it was 

 " not long before the eagerness displayed by the cat- 

 " tie to reach the grass attracted Mr. Ellis's notice, 

 " and induced him to collect and propagate the seeds ; 

 " which now thrive in some of the most rocky parts 

 ** of the Island, bestowing verdure and fertility on lands 

 " which otherwise would not be worth cultivation." 

 Vol. 1. page 186. 



* Many of the pens of Guinea grass, in Jamaica, are of great ex- 

 tent ; some contain 700 or 800 acres. I am informed by gentle- 

 men who have lately observed it in that Island, that it is perennial, 

 and that it forms a turf, which is divided and set out for the pur- 

 pose of extending the pasture grounds. Some of it was brought 

 from Jamaica to New-Orleans, in June last, by captain Califfe, 

 who was highly gratified at finding it growing in such perfection in 

 Natchez. He had been informed in Jamaica that it was difficult to 

 procure seed that would vegetate. I gave him a quantity of it for 

 his friends in N. Carolina. 



