New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-06-28
RAvEIING CORRESPONDENCE.
An SEA. STEAMER GEORGE LAW

a 34$ 3hlay 18th, 1886.
M dlea,, viro,a Fam aware that am somewhat
late in fulflng my promise but Twill endeayor to do
so now left teW ~ ork On the 10th, as You are
aware, on my way to California. Nothing very
remarkable has occurred on the passage thus far.
4 We have been coming along rather slowly. The
seventh day out We made Kingston, Jamaica, where
we put IN for coal ss$5s Il 5$
are very well aware Of course, that since the
emancipation the blacks, in 1882, the island has
detoroiated and lost nearly all its commerce. But
you cannot conceive how Wretched and degraded the
negroes have since become. They are either mendi-
5cants Or thieves They will work no more than is
absolutely necessary and then only when they are in
want Of food. 3#4 I'll Ss35
" The women are employed to carry coal on board
the steamer lazy dafkey, on being asked why he
did not carry coal replied a IF him neber get Off till
me tote dey coal him stay in Jamaica till eberlastn
smash Il!
The first sightof the mountains is very grand and
imposing Tie highest Of these. learn, is seven
thousand feet above the level of thesea It is called
the blue mountain and the peak can be seen only on
a. very clear day.
heapproach to the harborand the entrance to the
bay is one of the finest have ever seen. In tropi-
eal climate rythng appears picturesque and beau
to me- reared in colder and less genial clirnes
n We took on board q negro pilot, and soon after
were boarded bY the officer of the port. Satisfied
that there was no sickness on board I'VE were allowed
TO proceed up to the city of Kingston. After the
internal abber Of the negro pilot and assistants
we were made fast to the wharf The docks were
crowded, very naturally as this was the first Ameri
steamer that had been there in ten months. The
water around the ship was filled with negro boys,
who were inviting the passengers to throw over
dimes and other coins, and then dive for them. j
called theattention Of certain adyto their expert
ness in invariably bringing. up the Dimes" when
she exclaimed ~ Why they are men Y
We soon formed ourselves into parties and rode
into the town. and were put down at a place called
the Commercial Hotel, where they served us up a
miserable dinner, and charged fearful price. After
dinner, took strool through the city. I never saw
anything 50 miserable and dilapidated the houses,
streets and eople. Had q conversation with an old
negro woman, Wlo was tending a cake stand which
confirmed my opinion relative to the propriety Of
emancipation. = She did not care about freedom
Would sooner have master than take care Of her
self,
After considerable bargaining and submitting to
the most unheard Of extorton, we entered some We
hices and started for drive for the barracks about
two miles from the city We drove through the bet
tel part the town. where there are really
fine residences. Among these muslin forget the
house Of Mr. Harrison, our Consul, where, later in
the evening, few friends and myself partook Of his
hospitality He is upwards of eighty years of age.
He has been in Kingston forty years: and is, under.
stand, the oldest American Consul.
Our drive to the barracks was very pleasant The
few miles Of country through which we passed is
thick with every species Of the most luscious tropical
fruit, that seems to spring spontaneously from the
soiloranges, bananas, pine apples, grapes, guava,
tanarind, land the most luSuriant flowers, on which
my eyes ever feasted! All! nature has indeed been
lavish of her gifts But with all this natural wealth,
the island has no commerce. and is an expense to the
home government. This the effect Of freedom OH the
negro in jamaica But ! have already written more
than intended, and not altogether schat intended
We arrive tomorrow in Aspinwall; if there isany,
thing there that think will interest you, will
add more, will pause for the present.
AspNwALL, May so.
We arrived here early this morning. No news to
communicate worth your while.
We leave this morning for Panama, where we take
the Golden Gate for San Francisco
With regards for your confreres, remain yours,
WANDERER.
=