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Show 148 JAMAICA· I th we h a(I arrived at the summit of When at eng 1. d vith the polite request of · comp tc ' the mountam, we t· ken us on horseback, and . •h had over ,t . two ladies !" 0I use o f one of the princtpal coffee-called at t 1e 10 •• · . He gave us the usual kind f the VICI!llty. planter. s 0 b t it was eV.I ll ent • at first sight, that he receptiOn; u . d d mortified. After a short b disappomte an bad een . ' on !.O l] 'wIre re, n t to{lics ' we took our leave. conversatiOn, I . te and brgan, at last, to pour c II d us to liS ga He 10· owe bles f I e Il <,t d been ' in days past, a warm out hts trou · . . f lavery but now many of his h bohtwn o s ' ' friend tot e a k c 111·m "Do tell me," said f 1 to wor tor · negroes re usel. k for thee ; hast thou been " l they wtll not wor . I, kw' 1Y any attempts, s.m ce. freedom , to comp. el "th e1r rna m?g" I have usetl " a l1't tle gentle compulsiOn,. was labor • f the difficulty was now evident, h. 1 fhe cause o d ts rep Y· appre h ens.w n ., 'a nd 1 afterwards foun , to myh own stw. ns o f ren t an d la, bor had been inter· that t e que . t . and that the former min led on his proper y , ' . g arbitrary scale, m order to been exacted, on an f' Jamaica arc much too I The peasantry o ' the utter. . . hts and interests, long to cognizant of their own ngf' I Fondly attached · ~ m o s avery. submit to thts new or bl l they avail them· h . h m e 10mes, ' as they are to t eir u 't f obtaining a better lot, ~~of ~~ opportum y o ~~~m and gradually desert the estates on w tc 1 unfairly treated. . h r journey, we Weary as we already were wtt ou d and diffi· had many miles yet to travel, over a r~fg:no~vn pen~ cult road, before we could reach a we ask for a where we m. ten d e d ' tho n gh strangers, t·o ,a bove lodging. We were now on a h ·J g 11 elevatiOn ' .JAMAICA. 149 level of the sea; and the titce of the country was covered chiefly with woods and pasture land. We looked in vain for some of those flocks of green parrots, which frequent this district, and supply the inhabitants, as we were told, with excellent pies; but the luxuriance of vegetable nature was the constant subject of our admiration. The highlands of Jamaica are adorned with as great a variety of beautiful ferns, as can probably be found in any part of the world; also with many kinds of palm and aloe. The thatch palm, a plant of low stature, with handsome fan-like leaves, is frequent in the woods, and is used by the negroes as a cover for the roofs of their cottages. Amongst the aloes (as I presume) we observed a magnificent plant, with a large spike of purple flowers and a pink calix, which is there called the wild pine-apple. The vast creepers whir.h embrace, and sometimes even destroy the trees, are most abundant. One species is remarkable for its juicy stem, which, in the midst of surrounding drought and heat, is said to afford the traveller or the laborer, many a refreshing draught of wholesome water. Our kind friend, the young physician-a new but valuable acquaintance-led the way; and jnst as the evening was closing upon us, conducted us in safety to the wild and romantic spot, where we intended to lodge. He afterwards presented me with a perfect specimen of a fossil conch-shell (l believe of the common species still found on the coast) which he had dug out of limestone, at an elevation of two thousand feet above the level of the sea. |