The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-07-17
For the Northern Galaxy.
LETTERS FROM JAMAICA.
CdicoS Passage.

Caicos Passage.
On the morning of the 18th, we were in
sight OF the most Northern of the Caicos Is s
group of the Bahamas lying between Turks
Is. on the e. and Mariguana on the West
The sugar cane was once extensively cultiva-
ted on these islands, but the ravages of an in
sect have led TO its abandonment. The Cal
cos passage, on the w. of the group, Occu-
pied most of the day. At the distance Of sew
eral miles, enormous breakers were seen roll
ing up their green masses and dashing into
white foam.
Greater Antilles.
The morning of the 18th, the lofty noun
tains of St. Domingo appeared, in striking
contrast 10 the low islands seen yesterday
During the forenoon we passed the Cape of
St. Nichola Mole, on the n. w. side of the
spacious Bay of Gondives, and the n. w.
extremity of the island. The Z. extremity
of Cuba was visible at the same time. Du-
ring the following night the trade wind which
had waited us along at the rate of 115 miles
per day, nearly died away. Passing slowly
along the broad opening of the bay, morning
revealed to us the still more lofty submits in
the rear of Cape Dame Marie. In the eve
ming the precipitOus sides of Navasa, an I'M
inhabited island lying of st. Domingo to-
wards Jamaica, stood up on the left. Com
ing out of the lee of these islands during the
night we encountered a rolling sea, which
rolled us from side TO side and allowed but lit
tie sleep. The morning of the goth reveal
ed the cloud capped submits Of jamaica
At noon we passed Cape Moraut, the ;. f..
extremity of the island, on which was an iron
light house erected at an expense Of $4,000
and occupied by three keepers, whose saia-
rics amount to nearly $1,000. 1t P. NJ.
we arrived al Port Royal. \ light wind car
ried us up the land-harbor of Kingston, where
VIC arrived soon after dusk. The tropical
scenery of the afternoon, groves Of cocoa-nut
trees. green mountains, cultivated and inhab-
tied al the height Of 5000 feet, patches of SUI
gar cane, and in the evening the phosphOres-
sire for more careful examination of these
interesting objects.
Kingston.
The harbor Of Kingston consists Of the bay
of Port Royal, which is enclosed by mar
row tongue of land, ten miles long and III
many places but few rods wide. and joining
the main land on the East. The western eX-
l,emity constitutes so much of Port Royal
as was not swallowed up by the great earth
quake ofI692. The entrance TO the bay is
sufficiently deep for the largest ships of war
and is protected from the sea by several keys
Or low Islands, some of which are washed by
the snrf This fine harbor, abundantly wide
for beating out or in, and deep enough fOrtht
largest ships, seems to have no fault eXcep
of Eeing so broad as to expose the shipping
during violent winds from the South. Hence
only one vessel at a given time is allowed IL
lie at each wharf. and all others are required
to anchor at specified distances, which arr
Increased during the hurricane months.
/ The city Of X extends for two miles a.ons
/ the n. l.. shore OF Tie bay, and is half a milk
in width. The streets iutersect at right an
/ giles, and are all unpayed and sandy. TIT
+ buildings are seldom OF more than one or a
most two stories above the basement. Th'
dwellings Of the more wealthy inhabitants or
surrounded BY spacious yards and gardens
which ore filed with cocoa-nut, date, tama
rind. prickly pear, and many other ornamen
! tal trees, and with shruhberv, Of dense ioliag
and rich flowers and fruii. In front of III
stores, the sidewalks are covered BY porches
which afford grateful protection from tn
rays Of a tropical sun.
The tout ensemble however, does not strik
an American favorably. The foliage, whiel
,rould be beautiful, is covered with dust iron
the unpayed streets. Sidewalks are scarcel
to be found except in front of the stores, an
here are various elevations, and are goOd,Dad
or indifferent, according to the caprice, or alb
. .,r, Tho lnsv HCnSeS
high walls of enclosure are built of coarse
grey, crumbling bricks, and many OF thes
walls have cemented in the top contlguou
series of broken bottles. with the sharp point
and edges upward, an eiectual but insight
protector from the attempts of interlopers.-
All this is in striking contrast with the lofty
bright. and handsome buildings, the neat uni
form sidewalks and well paved streets Of on
American cities.
The population is equally in contrast witt
that of your northern cities. No white lad
is ever seen walking abroad, and except i
the streets devoted TO business, but few whit
gentlemen and these rarely on foot. But
multitude of other colors, The deep black G
pure African blood, and all the lighter shades
which are Unfortunately called brown, Q
both sexes, and all ages, throng the streets
Great simplicity ofdress is common with thi
part of the population, children being content
ed with single article, viz. long coars
shirt, and not few adults displaying, wit
their tattered garments, a varegated appear
ance, in which the black or brown, from 1t
extent as well as situation, may be regarde'
as the ground color. In the outskirts of III
city. the gardens and roads are enclosed VIII
hedges of ''perigian," plant somewhat al
lied to the pine apple, with sharp thorns alonl
the edges ofits sti1 succulent leaves; or witt
a species of cactus, W hose dark green column
preserving a nearly uniform diameter of o
inches 10 the top, and covered with sharl
slender spines, attain to the height of IL TO i
and sometimes 90 feet.
| The vegetable market consists of an ope'
piece of land, near the large and spaciou