CACAO. 69 



merly existed amongst persons of all ages, of rubbing them- 

 selves with oil to give pliability to the muscles, and to 

 preserve them from rheumatism, this oil would obtain the 

 preference, as we conclude the practice was discontinued 

 from the greasy and rancid smell which common oil must 

 naturally leave on the body. 



We cannot but regret that the cultivation of this valu- 

 able plant should have been discontinued in our West- 

 India islands ; nor can we be surprised, when we find that 

 the duty, including the customs and excise, amounted to 

 upwards of four hundred and eighty per cent, on its mar- 

 ketable value when manufactured. 



It is carefully cultivated in all the French and Spanish 

 settlements in the warmer parts of America. For what 

 reason our ministerial policy should have so widely dif- 

 fered from that of the neighbouring courts, we are unable 

 to guess ; but we trust that the alteration which has lately 

 taken place in the duty on chocolate, will prove a benefit 

 v to our revenue, an advantage to our colonies, and a credit 

 to the ministers who adopted this measure. 



It is certain that the cultivation of the cacao planta- 

 tions was both extensive and successful in the British su- 

 gar islands, for many years after they had become subject 

 to our government. Blome, who published a short ac- 

 count of Jamaica in 1672, speaks of cacao as being at 

 that time one of the chief articles of export : " There are," 

 says he, " in this island, at this time, about sixty cacao 

 walks, and many more now planting." At present, we be- 

 lieve, there is not a single cacao plantation from one end 

 of Jamaica to the other. A few scattered trees, here and 

 there, are all that remain of those flourishing and beauti- 

 ful groves which were once the pride and boast of the 

 country. " They have withered with the indigo manufac- 

 ture," says Edwards, " under the heavy hand of minis- 

 terial exaction." 



