The West indies in 1837

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JAMAICA.

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of the most productive estates in the island, and has upwards of five hundred apprentices. The buildings are very complete, and on an extensive scale, and the mill is on an improved plan. Instead of being placed in a raised building, for the purpose of allowing the cane juice to run down into the receiver in the boilinghouse, so as to require all the canes to be carried up in bundles, the mill is placed on the level, and the cane juice is i-aised by a wheel hung round with buckets, moved by the water wheel that sets the mill itself in motion. It must be remarked of this and similar im­ provements, which are at length beginning to be intro­ duced, that they not only save the labor of many hands, but abolish altogether those kinds of labor, which were the most painful and destructive of life. It is remark­ able, however, that such improvements are scattered singly over the island, and we believe, no estate can be pointed out, which combines them all. The hospital at Golden Grove is roomy, clean, and well ventilated. It is full of cases of measles, and the patients are locked in till convalescent. The practice is general through­ out the island, of permitting the apprentice attendants, called hospital doctors, to bleed and' compound medi­ cines. The most interesting building on this estate, is a handsome, little, brick church, built by the proprietor, with materials supplied from his estate, and with the labor of his own slaves. It is now thrown open to tlie public, and the minister is paid by this and several adjoining estates. There is a clock in the tower of the church, and we enquired of the attorney whether the people drew off when it struck six ; he replied no, they draw off at sun-set, and as that is earlier than six on the short days, one season compensates for the other. He also acknowledged they did not have their lialf EE

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