The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-11-25


| SamaBca.
The great British emancipation act
which, on the first Of August, 1888, con
verted 800, 900 West India slaves into IRE.
men, was new era in the history Of hu
man freedom, and its results have beer
watched with intense interest, from botf
sides Of the Atlantic. Different represen
tations have been made, according to the
different opportunities which writers or
this subject have had for forming correc
Judgment. No where have we seen state
ments which seemed more candid. discrim
mating and intelligent, than in the October
number Of the New Highlander. The
writer (Rev. C.. S. Renshaw, We suppose, J
speaks from extended personal observation,
having resided some time in Jamaica, as
missionary. He confines his attention to
this island; as giving the most full and fair
view of the working of emancipation>
Jamaica, he states, is about 9, 400 square
miles in extent, or about as large as the
State Of Massachusetts,, and has popula-
tion Of about half million. This popu.
lstion is divided into three classes. viz:-
shite, brown and black. The brown men
gradually rose in wealth and influence, and
after severe struggle, obtained for them
selves equal rights, eight years before the
emancipation Of the blacks.
"The progress of this class has been
very rapid. Immediately after their en-
reimbursement, two Of their number were
returned to the local Legislature, and others
have been added at each successive cleo
ton, until about one-third Of the whole rep
resentation is by colored members"
The condition Of the emancipated blacks,
their domestic habits. Improvements, &c /,
are matters of special interest, and Of these
the writer thus speaks:
1.-The whole rural population have homes.
For the most part, they live in the same
places, and, perhaps, in the same huts, in
which slavery left them. These are very
low, small, rude tenements of from ten
feet square, divided into two rooms, to
fourteen feet by twenty-four, divided into
three or four. The posts OF the house are
(astened into the earth. which is slightly
raised and beaten hard for floor; the sides
are made Of bamboo. cut and split to the
size Of laths, which is daubed or plastered
with mud, on one side OF both, and rubbed
ill smooth and hard; and by successive
fubbings, and filling up the cracks, this
process makes a neat wall. The roof is
matched with long grass. or with the leaves
of the cocoa-nut tree; it is often foot thick.
reaching nearly down to the ground. The
under surface is smoked to glossy black,
o protect il from the vermin with which
the island abounds.
Many thousand huts have been built since
the emancipation, and they are uniformly
better than the slave huls; higher, larger,
better ventilated. A few are boarded up,
more are shingIed, and many are floored.-
All manifest an improved taste, style and
manner Of living. About twenty thousand
Of the peasantry have become freeholders
Not only have the people homes-they
have the mcans Of a comfortable subeist
ence. Every man, and woman, and half
grown child has provision ground, in
which they cultivate yams, cocoas, "a roo
somewhat resembling beet, but Of much
finer, frmer iexture,) plantains, sugar cane
cassada, coffee, corn, beans, &c. &C., which
they sell OF barter for bread, biscuit, butter
sugar, cheese, lard, fish, meats, soap, can
| dies, DC"
Much has been done in religious way
for the elevation Of the freed men. The
number and denominations of missionarie.
in Jamaica, is thus stated by our author:
.'Since the decree of emancipation, the
missionary bodies Of England have vice
with each other, in their efforts for the NOR
al elevation Of the freed men. In 1894
there were, perhaps, forty-fve ministers o
religion in Jamaica-some of these wer
State paid hiIelings-seventeen were dis
senting missionaries. In 1891, there wer
nearly one hundred ministers, forty-four G
whom were dissenters. There are now nc
less than two hundred and ten ministers, G
whom about one hundred are Of the estat
lished churches Of England and Scotland
thirty are Wesleyans, twenty-six Baptist
sixteen Presby terisns, thirteen Indepent
ents, fifteen Moravians, five Wesleyan
New Connection" four American Congr'
gationalists. Besides these, there are tire
Jews. five Catholics, twenty-five Nativ
Baptists."
/ There is large amount of other info
nation in the article before US, which gos
|, entirely to set aside the objections whic
have been urged against the working I
, emancipation, and to show the benefi
which have resulted to all classes, and al
still to result in an increasing degree, frol
the opening Of the prison doors to so mar
thousands. We have room, however,
add only the folio wing conclusion to whic
fthe author is brought by his close observ
ton and inquiry:
"The question is often asked, 'Wh
.-:u ha the ;nAnAncs af thu r-e~~.~s -
/, barrassments upon the future history
jamaica Can the island recover fro
e themS
u We may hazard an opinion, that its {
ture history will be its most fruitful, mo
peaceful and most happy. The estat
. must pass from the absentees, who now no
| them for a mere moiety Of their estimat
| value under the colonial system, when tn
, enjoyed the monopoly Of the English ms
, ket, aud come into the possession OF thru
!. resident proprietors. who will manage the
, without the Intervention Of attorneys al
/, oyerseers. The enormous government
: expenditure and weight of taxation will
= GREATLY reduced by the action Of the risi