394 



MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



district have for some time been engaged in a lucrative export trade in fruits 

 witli tlie United States. Jloranf Toicn, on the south-east side, near the extreme 

 eastern headland of Morant Point, also carries on a considerable trade in oranges 

 and other fruits. The oranges of Jamaica are the most highly appreciated in the 

 American market. The term Morant, applied to the village, cape, bay, and har- 

 bour, is of Spanish origin ; it has reference to the long " delay " to which vessels 

 coming from the southern part of the island are frequently subject while endea- 

 vouring to double the extreme headland in the teeth of the regular east winds. 



Administration. 



For more than 150 years Jamaica enjoyed almost absolute political autonomy; 

 that is to say, the planters, masters of their slaves, were also masters of the 



Fig 187.— Chief Towns of JA\fAicA. 

 Scale 1 : 2,700,000. 



to 100 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



100 to 500 

 Fathoms. 



500 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



60 Miles. 



Other inhabitants of the island, " little whites " and emancipated people of 

 colour. The administration was, in fact, entirely in their hands. But after the 

 abolition of slavery, the blacks, legally free, but de facto still enslaved, subjected 

 to a thousand vexations on the part of their former owners, and deprived of all 

 help from the planters, vainly attempted to take a modest share in the social and 

 political life of the community. The pretended colonial autonomy of Jamaica was, 

 in reality, nothing more than the absolute control of the white aristocracy over the 

 coloured population, and the British Government was at last compelled, under 

 pressure of public opinion, to put an end to the scandal. 



But instead of granting a few rights to the peoj^le of colour, it proceeded to 



