606 



JAMAICA. 



Jamaica. 



Cottoa. 



Indigo. 



Ginger. 



Pimento. 



In the four years ending the 30th September 1791, the 

 average exportation of coffee was 1 ,603,066' Ibs. : in 

 1K01', it amounted to 22 million pounds; and during 

 three years ending 50th September 1807, the average 

 exportation was more than 28 millions, which, at 6 

 per cwt. its cost in Jamaica, produced more than 

 1,700,000. It is calculated that 20,000,000 is in- 

 vested in coffee estates. Cotton is not cultivated to 

 any very great extent : it was attempted to cultivate it 

 on ground worn out by sugar ; but it was found that 

 such soil would not grow either cotton or coffee, and 

 would produce only very inferior grass. Indigo is 

 now very little cultivated, and, in all probability, will 

 never again become a staple commodity. Blome, who 

 published a short account of Jamaica, in the year 1672, 

 mentions that there existed at that time, about 60 co- 

 coa walks : at present, there is scarcely a single plan- 

 tation in the whole island. Ginger is little cultivated. 

 All the produce of the arnotto plant, which is at pre- 

 sent exported from Jamaica, is gathered from the trees 

 that grow spontaneously. The pimento trees also grow 

 spontaneously, and in great abundance, especially in 



the hilly regions of the North. The returns from a Jamaica. 

 pimento walk, in a favourable season, are very great : -~Y -^ 

 a single tree has been known to yield 150 Ibs. of the 

 raw fruit, or 100 Ibs. of the dried spice. 



The following Tables will further illustrate the value, 

 and produce, and expence, of cultivating Jamaica estates 

 at different periods. 



Common Valuation of an Estate. 



Cane land, the canes upon it valued se- Sterling. 



parately 22 per acre 



Plants 22 do. 



Cane land in ratoons and young plants 15 do. 



Pasture land .... 8 do. 



Wood land 4 do. 



Provisions 14 do 



Negroes 57 do. 



Mules 22 do. 



Steers ... . . 10 do. 



Breeding cattle, c. ... 5 do. 

 Works, water, carts, &c. from 7000 to 10,000. 



Value of 

 estates. 



Property 

 and pro- 

 duce in 

 K96. 



View of the Property and chief Produce of the whole Island in 1786. 



To this produce should be added about 53,000 puncheons of rum. 



Comparative View between the Years 1768 and 1786. 



Compared 

 inth 1768. 



Kales of Contingent Charges on Jamaica Estates from 1763 to 1806, taken from the Eeporl of the Committee of the 



House of Commons. 



F.x pence of 

 estates from 

 1763 to 

 J80J. 



