The West indies in 1837

Page 281

JAMAICA.

265

or little baskets one by one, till all are served, when grace is said, and the meal commenced. Sometimes children come without food ; in which case the others always manifest the utmost willingness to share with them. We afterwards rode over to Fairfield, the prin­ cipal station of the United Brethren, passing on our way through Spurtree, a large pen, on which there are about three hundred apprentices. W e observed in the negro grounds, a considerable number of tombs, all neatly constructed, and many of them recently whitewashed. Some were ornamented with carved figures of idols. On this, and several other adjacent properties, a night school is held once or twice a week, by the superintendent of the Mico institution at Com­ fort, or one of his assistants. The parish of Manches­ ter is of great extent, and very mountainous. It is chiefly occupied by pens and coffee plantations. It has oidy one spring of fresh water, and the effects of the present long period of drought, are in consequence severely felt. From the ridge which we crossed to Fairfield, we had a fine view of the parish of St. Eliza­ beth, through which we passed yesterday. Part of it is a level savanna, many square miles in extent, bound­ ed by lofty hills. The alluvial plain is occupied with sugar estates and pens, and the light verdure of the cane fields, forms a beautiful contrast with the depth of the intervening pastures of guinea grass. At Fairfield we were introduced to two of the brethren and their wives. We visited the Refuge, an institution estab­ lished for the reception of colored orphan girls. We had not the pleasure of examining the children in any of their school exercises, but they appeared to be in exact order, and under the care of a competent mistress. They are twenty-five in number, of whom two were A A


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