156 PHCENIX PARK. 



An arched passage open at eacli end leads tlirougli 

 the house, beneath the dwelling apartments, from 

 the road in front to the yard behind. 



A flight of stone steps, with iron balustrades, on 

 which run beautiful twining and creeping plants, 

 such as the lovely crimson Quamoclit, the wax-like 

 Hoya carnosa and others, leads the visitor up to the 

 front door, and he is immediately ushered into a 

 spacious hall, of the form of a cross, extending the 

 whole length and breadth of the house. This large 

 hall is characteristic of all Jamaica houses ; it forms 

 the principal sitting room ; and, from its shape, ad- 

 mits the cooling breeze to sweep through it, whenever 

 there is a breath of air. The two square areas formed 

 by one side of the cross are filled by bedrooms ; but 

 with these exceptions the whole of the sides and 

 ends of the hall are either occupied by windows, or 

 open, and furnished with jalousies, a broad sort of 

 transverse Venetian blinds, which freely admit the 

 air while they exclude the glare of light, which in 

 this country is scarcely less distressing than the heat. 

 This large and cool apartment is furnished with sofas, 

 ottomans, tables, chairs, &c., not differing from ours ; 

 but there is no fireplace, nor any carpet. Instead of 

 the latter the floor is made of the most beautiful of 

 the native woods, in the selection of which much 

 taste is often displayed, as also in the arrangement, 

 so that the various colours of the wood may harmonise 

 or contrast well with each other. Mahogany, green- 

 heart, breadnut, and blood-heart are among the trees 

 whose timber is employed for floors. Great hardness 

 is an indispensable requisite in the wood used, and 



