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Show 14'4 JAMAICA . in the neighborhood; and we were theref:orc glad to hear him say, that their numbers, under freedom, are increasing, in a geometrical ratio.. Compare this statement with the well-known fact, that, under slavery, the population of Jamaica was constantly decreasing. The old system was a killing one-the new system, when fairly carried out, is in its very na· turc life-giving. Third month (March) 19th.-We parted from our friend Marcey with feelings of grateful respect; after which, a long and somewhat tedious stage brought us to Lacovia, a very small village, containing a church and two taverns. It had once been the " capital" of St. Elizabeth, but the court house having been lately opened at Black-river, on the coast, Lacovia seemed much deserted. We were, however, glad to make the acquaintance of the valuable curate of the district, who gave us a generally favorable account of the state of the population; and, although our accommodations at the tavern were miserable enough, we concluded to continue there over the night, in order to hold a meet· ing with the people, in the evening. They assembled on the occasion in large numbers, in the presence of their minister, and behaved with the utmost attention and decorum. ln the course of our drive this day, we observed, as we often did at other times, a large number of negroes industriously at work on the roads; they were each of them earning four bits, or thirtythree cents per day-the usual day's wages in Jamaica. The circumstance may appear scarcely worthy of notice; it is nevertheless important; for in the first place it shows that labor is to be easily obtained, even JAMAICA. 145 in St. Elizabeth, at a very m o d eratl' expense . and secondly, the numerous exertion 1 . h ' . . J . . s w llc arc now rnak-mg m ama.1 ca, for the improve. men t o 1. t 1w h. 1ghwa are a snre s1gn of a rising, rather th·ln 1. 11. ys, . ' a a mg state. The followmg day was one whi CIl .11 I . WI ong be 1m pressed .o n our recollection · W e were aware that in-attemptmg to cross the island in th.I s dl.r ectJ.O n, I. t was n.e cessary for us to surmount so me one tremendous hill. Two or thr.e e routes were propose d to us; but, by. all accounts, It was quite proble me t"1 ca 1 whether With fou. r-wheel carriages and J·aded h orses, I. t woul' d' be possible for us to overcome the d"ffi 1 • 1 cu ty. As the alternative was • the loss of ma' n Y d ays m. measur.m g back o.u r long JOUmey' we we r e somew h at anxi.O us respe~tmg the result; but we were soon relieved b the k. mdness of our friend Ricketts· , tl1 e s 11. pen d"m ryY ~a.glstrate, who called at our tavern, requested us to v· 1sE1t the estate which he now manages fi , 1 . or a re at1 vc m ngland, and promised that onr carriages sho ld be dragged up the inevitable mountain roa-' b fi u f · ht · ,/-' u, Y orce o ezg pazr 0 oxen. Early in the morning, one of his laborers arrived on horseback to guid . "I to Bartons W e us SIX mi es, . . e found the place smiling with pros-penty; the crops excellent, the works in good d and the 1 d .1• or er, peop e ' Igently and cheerfully labori fi moderate wa 'fh h" ng or ges. e Istory of this estate th great Ii ht . ' rows D . g on the practical operation of freedom urmg the last year of a t" h" . . was 100 I ppren Ices 'P• Its produce rum-e. logsheads of sugar, and 25 puncheons of in p xpe.nse of management, £2000-profit small roportJOn-l b r . ' full freedo h e !eve a Cipher. At the date of m, t e works ceased, and nothing was done L |