512 JAMAICA ft. in the sea. The buildings, still standing as they had sunk, were visible in clear weather as late as 1835. The town of Savana-la-Mar was also completely destroyed in 1780 by a hurricane, which swept most of the houses with their occupants into the sea. The soil is not so fertile as that of most of the other West India islands. In the north a chalky marl is the prevailing character ; while to the west and south the so-called Jamaica brick mould pre- dominates, analogous to the warm yellow mould of Cuba, so favorable to the production of the sugar cane. Wherever this soil exists sugar plantations abound, but both labor and manure are essential to their productiveness. Next in importance to sugar culture is that of pimento, to which extensive tracts are de- voted ; the coffee yield is on the increase ; ca- cao, arrowroot, indigo, ginger, and turmeric are likewise cultivated, but the last only in small quantities by the negroes for their own use. Maize yields abundant harvests twice and even thrice a year in all parts of the island ; and Guinea corn is grown in several districts. Yams, cassava, batatas or sweet potatoes, and other articles designated as " ground fruit," are plentiful. In the higher districts grow cala- vances (a species of pea used by the negroes), and several species of European garden vege- tables. The fruits include nearly all the tropi- cal varieties, especially the plantain, which forms an important element of food for the colored classes. Of European fruits, the orange, lime, lemon, and vine were introduced by the Spaniards ; but only the last thrives here. Re- peated attempts to introduce cotton culture have proved unsuccessful, owing in part to the uncertainty of the seasons, but chiefly to the scarcity and the enhanced price of labor, which two circumstances render abortive all undertakings requiring the immediate applica- tion of a large number of hands. The cinchona tree, acclimated of late years, is now cultivated with much profit ; and the same may be said of cinnamon. Among the most precious forest productions are the breadfruit tree, mahogany, cedar, ironwood, greenheart, and other cabinet woods ; the principal palms are the cabbage palm and the cocoanut tree ; the lignumvitse or guaiacum abounds ; the cotton tree attains im- mense proportions, and is used for making ca- noes; the bamboo grows wild and is cultiva- ted ; fustic, Brazil wood, logwood, and some kindred species are likewise plentiful. Guinea grass here grows with great luxuriance, and most of the grazing farms are covered with it. Numerous herds of cattle and droves of mules are reared ; the latter and oxen are exclusively devoted to labor on the farms, for the horses, resembling the other hardy breeds of the West Indies, are mostly kept for saddle and harness use. Sheep and swine are numerous ; and the various barnyard fowls and pigeons are very common. Of the many wild animals which once peopled the Jamaica forests, the agouti and some species of monkey alone remain, with one or two varieties of rats, which are ex- tremely numerous in every part of the island, and destructive of the sugar cane. There are several kinds of lizards, the largest of which, the iguana, is commonly eaten by the lower classes. Alligators abound in every stream. The land crab, here very common, coming down in myriads from the mountains to the seacoast in the autumn months, is esteemed as a delicacy. The wild birds include ringdoves, parrots, and others of brilliant plumage; and the rice bird visits the island every year in pro- digious numbers. The chief industries are ag- riculture and the manufacture of rum, cotton fabrics, candles, and other commodities. The chief trade of the island is with England. The staples of export are sugar, rum, coffee, spices, and dyestuffs. The total value of the imports in 1871 amounted to $6,655,000, and that of the exports to $6,245,000. The sugar exported in 1870 was 30,747 hogsheads, valued at $2,461,- 040; rum, 260 puncheons, $1,182,790; coffee, 7,671,564 Ibs., $1,189,950; pimento, 5,243,- 109 Ibs., $145,420. Next in order of impor- tance among the exports stand ginger, rice, cotton manufactures, cocoanuts, cacao, and beeswax. Honey to the value of over $30,000 was exported in 1870 to the United States and England. The number of vessels entered at all the ports of the island in 1870 was 509 (of which 353 were British), of 213,283 tons; the number of vessels cleared in the same year was 580 (386 being British), of 215,759 tons. Ja- maica is divided into three counties: Surrey on the east, Cornwall on the west, and Mid- dlesex, occupying the central and by far the largest portion. The capital is now Kingston, having replaced as such the neighboring Span- ish Town, with which it is connected by rail. The government is administered by a cap- tain general appointed by the crown, and the legislative power is vested in a house of as- sembly composed of 47 members. The revenue of the island in 1871 amounted to $2,175,000, and the expenditures to $2,110,000. The cost of the colony to the mother country in 1867- '8 was $724,750, an expense which, however, appears to diminish from year to year. The cost of the military station in 1872-'3 amount- ed to $339,355, the number of troops being usually 2,000, exclusive of the insular militia, which latter is at present not very numerous. The public debt of the island in 1871 was $388,000. Education has ever been a subject of interest in Jamaica, and the number of pub- lic schools is increased almost every year, the expenditure for this object falling little short of $100,000 annually. The number of churches is approximately as follows : Church of England, 95 ; Wesleyan Methodist, 80 ; United Methodist free church, 18 ; Jamaica Baptist union, 60 ; Jamaica Wesleyan Methodist association, 12; London mission society, 17 ; Moravian mission, 15 ; Roman Catholic, 8 ; United Presbyterian, 30; American mission, 5; Jewish, 1. The number of Episcopalians is about 40,000 ; Wea-
