218 Travels and Adventures 



light of this climate gives the water a most lovely 

 transparent blue colour which is seldom seen in more 

 northern latitudes. Kingston Harbour is one of the 

 most important in the West Indian Islands, and is 

 always well filled with ships of every kind and nation, 

 from the magnificent modern man-of-war and merchant- 

 ship to the tiny sail-boat that trades along the coast with 

 fruit. The appearance of this island from the sea is 

 very much improved by a range of hills which extends 

 the whole length of the interior. These are very 

 rightly called the Blue Mountains, as they are mostly 

 covered with a thin mist which looks from the sea like 

 a pale-blue gauze thrown over them, changing with 

 the rays of the sun to the most fantastic colours. As 

 the ships lie alongside the quay, passengers are 

 at liberty to stroll on shore to visit the places of 

 interest in the town of Kingston. Some take apart- 

 ments in hotels to avoid the uncomfortable heat of 

 the ship, others make excursions to various parts 

 of the island. The town itself, although full of 

 business activity, is hot and dusty. The most 

 favourite resorts in the country are the lovely model 

 Botanical Gardens, which occupy one of the best 

 situations half a day's journey up the Blue Moun- 

 tains, and the military station, which lies far up the 

 side of the mountain, where the air is cool and pure. 

 Last year the Exhibition of manufactured o-oods 



