XAYMACA; THE ISLAND OF MANY RIVERS 317 



in charge by eight stalwart black men, who, 

 divested of clothing, swam across the stream sup- 

 porting and floating the buggy by their united 

 efforts. The horses swam under the guidance of 

 other men, while we crossed on a narrow plank. 

 The Spanish River, in native parlance, was '' well 

 down," we should say, up, rather ; for swollen with 

 recent rains it came in a torrent from the high 

 mountains towering over our heads. At the 

 Swift and Rio Grande rivers we had to seek 

 similar aid, and most courteously was it given 

 by the engineers in charge. Port Antonio, the 

 metropolis of the north shore, with its fine har- 

 bor, we reached for a late luncheon. At that 

 time only the usual native lodging-house offered 

 accommodations, but now an admirable inn under 

 the management of the American Fruit Company 

 affords every comfort to the tourist. Delightfully 

 situated on the high bluff overlooking the sea, 

 the hills rising sharply in the background, topped 

 by the glorious Blue Mountain peak, a more 

 beautiful site for a winter resort is nowhere to be 

 found. 



We made good speed from Port Antonio to 

 " Boston," over a road gaining in beauty as it 

 wound in and out along the curving shore, close 

 to the sea; now on the sands, again climbing a 

 steep incline, protected by a solid stone rampart 

 from a frowning precipice, or crossing a wide 



