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Show 132 JAMAICA· destination ; the mountain road between the two places was considered to be impassable for carriages. The black people of the village crowded round us, proffered their aid, and refreshed us with draughts of cocoa-nut milk. Many of them were just setting off, though from so great a distance, for the meeting; for indeed they are a zealous, church-going people. John Candler and m ysclf, escorted by two of them, went forward on ponies which they kindly lent us; and the rest of the company moved slowly on behind, with the carriages, assisted by a band of these willinghearted people. Nothing could exceed their kindness and attention; and by pulling back the wheels in descending, and pushing them forward in ascending some of those steep heights, they enabled our drivers at length to accomplish the journey, which otherwise they could not possibly have done. "Don't fret, massa, said one of these zealous helpers, to a friend in the company-" all will come right at last." "Will massa have a little wine?" said a black woman, in a cottage by the road-side, to the same friend, when he called to ask tor a draught of water. The wine, sure enough, was at hand, and was found to be timely in a moment of great fatigue. Several empty bottles, in one corner of the room, showed that this cottager was accustomed so to evince her hospitality. Our friend offered payment, which was politely refused-" thanks," said the woman, "are better than money." We were in the midst of a Christian people; and as my companion and I rode on through a country of wild and enchanting beauty, we overtook flocks of the peasantry, who had just finished their day's work, |