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Show 70 JAMAICA. colors, landed nearly four hundred negroes in its vicinity, the day before their arrival. Some of the company VISited them, and found them in a miserably emaciated condition. We left the south western extremity of Porto Rico at nightfull one evening, and at daybreak were in sight of the low island of Mona. The next morning we found ourselves within n mile or two of the coast of Hayti ; and were surprised to discover how much we had over-run our calculation of longitude, when in the course of the day, we saw the dome-like rock of Alto Velo, a small island at its southernmost point, rising before our view. Here it was that Columbus and his sailors amused themselves in days of old, with killing the " sea wolves." Our course was now directed to the north-west, past another remarkable rock, called Los Frayles. Tllis rock is composed of a row of vertical pillars, which by a fe'rtile imagination, might easily be clothed with sack cloth, and depicted as " Friars." We were glad to pass by such dangerous " brethren" before sun-set, and were desirous,· if possible, of making the port of Jaquemel, only six:ty miles distant, the next morning. But our hopes were fnistrated; for when the morning came, we found ourselves becalmed near the coast, in front of a high cliff, with white hummocks, but at what longitude, we had no means of ascertaining. Here we amused ourselves with observing the motions of the Portuguese men-of-war-small jelly fishes-which sometime go by this name, and sometimes by that of" nautilus." Their bodies are hollow and transparent, of a bright pink or purple, and their feelers, by which the animalculre are caught for their sustenance, are composed of many purple cords curiously woven and twined. These cords are poisonous, and often inflict a sting on those who are bold enough to handle the animal. In the evening (when it was dark) a favorable breeze sprung up, and as we passed by a mysterious hollow in the mountains, a strong tide appeared to rush in upon us from the land. Perceiving as I believed, some tokens that this was our port, (for I had been studying the Coast Pilot for the purpose,) JAMAICA. 71 I requested the Captain to lay to for the night, and the next morning the scene which lay before us was magnificent. The mountains which rose to a great height, were enveloped in clouds; but I thought I clearly perceived a harbor-like opening between them. The bearing of the land was right, accord. ing to the book ; and when, for a moment the clouds broke away, I distinctly saw that remarkable descent of one mountain upon another, in a perpendicular line, which I !mew to be a sign of the harbor of Jaquemel. But the Captain, the mate, and my fellow-passengers, were all of a contrary judgment,- so the word wn.s given for turning the vessel round; and we availed ourselves of a fine en.sterly breeze, in sweeping along to the westward. After a short time, it became evident to all on board that we had lost our port. We had intended to take mules at Jaquemel, ride over the mountains to Port au Prince, pay our respects to the President Boyer, and then return to our vessel ; but this somewhat boyish design was now disappointed, and nothing remained for us to do, but to pursue our course to Jamaica. We afterwards found that our matters were ordered much better for us, than we conld have arranged them for ourselves; for had we landed at Hayti, we should have had no time for the accomplishment of some important duties, to which we found ourselves called in Jamaica. A fine breeze was now wafting us along at a noble rate, the weather was bright, the sea of gorgeous blue, and the coast of Hayti, along which :ve were passing, was formed of a circular line of mountains, clad with forest, and often descending in precipitous white cliffs to the sea. A small island to the South of it, covered with verdure, called L'Isle des Vaches, seemed spread like a carpet upon the waves, and these were tossing about in every direction. A few lines of verse may serve as a brief memorial of the " finest day of our voyage." Old Neptune was dressed in his brightest blue, where winter has no rigor, And the easterly breeze was sweeping along with mo~t salubrious vigor |