Chapter I: Preface

In presenting this work to the British public it is proposed to bring before the notice of those unacquainted with the charms of tropical scenery some of the features which tend to make one of our oldest colonies, Jamaica, a delightful winter resort.

At present, it is visited mostly by Americans, because of its easy accessibility from New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Their unanimous verdict is that there is no lovelier spot under the sun than this gem of the Antilles set in the midst of the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The historical interest is sufficient to attract the student, while the artistic sense is constantly charmed by the exquisite colouring of the tropical seas, the delicious green of the waving cane-fields, the lofty mountains with their ofttimes mist-wreathed summits.

The illustrations of island scenery are by Dr Witney of East Street, Kingston, Jamaica.

In compiling this book the writer is indebted to the courtesy of Mr Frank Cundall, who placed the old histories of the colony, which are kept in the Jamaica Institute, at her disposal; also to the Archbishop of the West Indies for the information His Grace was good enough to give her, concerning the Disestablishment of the Church of England in Jamaica.

B. PULLEN-BURRY.

CONTENTS

PAGE

CHAPTER I

MANDEVILLE—JAMAICA NOT NEAR THE VOLCANOES—BOOKS ON THE WEST INDIES 1

CHAPTER II

THE DIRECT LINE—THE LAZINESS OF THE NEGRO—FELLOW-PASSENGERS ON THE
_PORT ANTONIO_ 7

CHAPTER III

THE KESWICK DELEGATES—MISS SARAH WALKER—HAYTIAN CANNIBALISM 15

CHAPTER IV

THE BLACK UNDER BRITISH RULE—THE GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA AND SUITE 26

CHAPTER V

LAND SWALLOWS—TURKS ISLANDS—AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK—CONSTANT SPRING
HOTEL 31

CHAPTER VI

SUITABLE CLOTHING—PEDESTRIANS IN JAMAICA—SELF-HELP SOCIETY 46

CHAPTER VII

DOMINICA’S FLOURISHING CONDITION—SCOTCH DINNER—TROPICAL VEGETATION 58

CHAPTER VIII

SAVINGS BANKS—KESWICK VIEWS—SPANISH TOWN 67

CHAPTER IX

THE ROYAL MAIL COMPANY—THE “MUMPISH MELANCHOLY” OF JAMAICA 77

CHAPTER X

THE _CUISINE_ ON THE _E——_.—THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF DOMINICA 87

CHAPTER XI

DR GRAY ON YELLOW FEVER—MONT PELÉE—THE RED CARIBS OF DOMINICA 95

CHAPTER XII

DRIVES AND COUNTRY LIFE AT MANDEVILLE—NEGROES AND FUNERAL CUSTOMS 107

CHAPTER XIII

MY VISIT TO A PEN—ARAWAK REMAINS—LEGEND OF THE COTTON-TREE 123

CHAPTER XIV

OBEAHISM AND COFFEE-PLANTING 133

CHAPTER XV

COCKPIT COUNTRY—THE MAROONS 146

CHAPTER XVI

INDIAN CATTLE AT MONTPELIER—PALMER MONUMENT IN MONTEGO BAY
PARISH CHURCH—AMERICANS 167

CHAPTER XVII

DESCRIPTION OF ROSE HALL—SUGAR—THE EXPENSE OF WORKING AN ESTATE
A CENTURY AGO—BANANA CULTIVATION 179

CHAPTER XVIII

MONEAGUE HOTEL—THE TROUBLES OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 190

CHAPTER XIX

WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN JAMAICA—A BREAKDOWN ON THE RAILWAY—PORT
ANTONIO—CHESTER VALE 201

CHAPTER XX

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN JAMAICA—ITS DISESTABLISHMENT, ITS
INCREASED ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT 212

CHAPTER XXI

SIR HENRY MORGAN—LORD RODNEY—EDUCATION IN JAMAICA—CAPTAIN BAKER
ON THE BRIGHT PROSPECTS OF JAMAICA 230

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

ISLAND PRODUCTS, SUGAR, BANANAS, COCOA-NUTS _Frontispiece_

GROUP OF NATIVES _To face page_ 26

FRUIT STEAMER ON ITS WEEKLY ROUND ” 50

GARDEN AT MYRTLE BANK HOTEL ” 69

ROAD NEAR KINGSTON ” 109

FACSIMILE OF RECEIPT FOR SLAVE GIRL ” 152

OLD-FASHIONED SUGAR MILL ” 184

COCOA-NUT GROVE ” 199

PORT ANTONIO ” 206

_Stanford’s Geographical Estabᵗ._]

JAMAICA AS IT IS, 1903