JAMAICA. 199 



about three thousand feet above the sea. From this point 

 there is a famous view, which has several times been 

 described ; not only does the sinuous southern coast of 

 Jamaica lie spread out before the spectator, but the 

 northern sea, near Annotto Bay, can also be seen shining 

 between the peaks. The ascent occupied six hours, and 

 when another hour had been spent in searching for shells 

 and insects, it was time to take shelter for the night in a 

 house under the brow of the mountains. Here the tem- 

 perature was delightfully cold, and the travellers were even 

 glad to roll blankets around them in their beds. Next 

 morning they gazed again on the magnificence of the 

 unrivalled prospect at their feet, but soon after sunrise it 

 was necessary to start for Spanish Town, He thus 

 describes the drive back in his journal (March 1 1, 1846) : — 

 " We returned by a different route, skirting the sum- 

 " mits of the Liguanea Mountains, and passing through 

 " smiling plantations, in order to descend into the 

 " romantic parish of St. Thomas in the Vale. After a 

 " while, we crossed and recrossed, many times, the 

 " winding Rio d'Oro, and at length entered the magnifi- 

 " cent gorge called the Bog Walk (i.e. bocacaz, a sluice), 

 *' through which runs the Cobre, formed by the union of 

 *' the Negro and the D'Oro. The road lay for four 

 " miles through this deep gorge, by the side of the river, 

 " and afforded at every turn fresh scenes of surpassing 

 " wildness, grandeur, and beauty. The rock often rose 

 " to a great height on each side, leaving only room for 

 " the rushing stream which seemed to have cleft its 

 "course, and the narrow pathway at its side. Some- 

 " times, across the river, the side of the ravine receded 

 "in the form of a very steep but sloping mountain, 

 *' covered with a forest of large timber, and so clear of 

 " underwood, that the eye could peer far up into its 



