76 TlMEHRI. 
Cobra/' they attain their utmost height in the east, rising 
to over 7,000 feet in the peaks known as the Blue 
Mountains. The whole length of the chain is intersected 
with valleys, for the most part deep and narrow, which 
form the beds of many shallow and rapid rivers. There 
is only one extensive tract of open land in Jamaica 
at all corresponding with the great Savannahs of Cuba. 
This is the plain of Liguanea on the south. The island 
is very well cultivated, but the mountain scenery, 
especially amongst the peaks, ridges, and valleys of the 
Blue Mountains, is exceedingly magnificent, and scarcely 
inferior to that of Cuba in any respect, save extensive- 
ness — in some instances. 
The next island that attracts our attention is Hayti. 
The extreme western points form two peninsulas which 
extend a considerable distance from the mainland, thus 
forming the great bay of Gonaives, on a deep harbour of 
which stands the city of Port-au-Prince, the capital of the 
Haytian republic. We have already said that the island is 
divided into two states. These are the scenes of almost 
incessant warfare, the consequence being that one of 
the fairest, richest and most favoured countries of the 
world is converted by the violence of passion, and 
the unreasoning delirium of ignorance emancipated from 
all restraint, into an arena of bloodshed and a parade 
ground for the most abject form of anarchy. Within the 
last year Port-au-Prince was lively with fire and sword, 
the President, Solomon, issuing ''manifestos" to the 
effect that he would himself reduce the fair city to ashes, 
and stand alone on the smouldering ruins. Perhaps he 
had been reading of Nero ! It may be noted here, that 
whilst jealousy between the two republics prevails, they 
