JAMAICA.
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in length, and terminates at the sea coast, in a fine harbour called Holland Bay. It is bounded on the south by a low range of hills, and on the north by an ascending series of heights, terminating in the lofty range of the Blue Mountains. The Plaintain Garden River, at this season an inconsiderable stream, inter sects the savanna. Owing to the nearly uniform suc cession of fine seasons, this district is one of the most affluent in the island, but is reputed to be very un healthy, and has been sometimes termed the grave of Europeans. We were accompanied by J. K I N G D O N , with whom we called at Amity Hall, a fine estate near the centre of the savanna, and were introduced to K i R K L A N D , the resident overseer, and joint attor ney of the estate. This estate is managed with more lenity than most others in the district, a circumstance which is owing to the proprietor and his family resi ding upon it for a short time, and to his selection ot the present overseer. The apprentices obtained their half Fridays, when their owner was in the island, but have again been deprived of them since his departure, without, as we learned from the overseer himself, any agreement having been entered into, to compensate them for the loss.* We were shewn over the works, which are very complete. The boiling-house has been newly arranged, and is the best we have seen for economy of • Tills fact had been mentioned to us previously by two indi viduals acquainted with the circumstances. The change was made through the influence of the other attorney, one of the mem bers for the parish. The motive could have been no other than a determination to preserve a uniformity of system throughout the district, as the example of one estate legally administered, would tend to excite discontent and resistance on the neighbouring proper ties. This is one reason why the directions of humane absentée pro prietors are rarely carried into effect.