The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-03-15
Negro Life I'm Jamaica.


Negro Lie I'm Jamaica.
Idleness is the one great curse Of ia
maica, which has at once destroyed the
prosperity Of the island and degraded the
people. The little work which is accom-
plished is done mostly by the women.
Barefooted and barearmed, with their
frocks wrapped in roll round their bod
les, and their heads tied in the handker-
chief, universally worn by both sexes,
they toll from morning till night at the
severest labor, and never seem to rcpine
at their lot. They may often be seen
carrying head loads of fruit or vegetables
to market, while the men ride after them
on otherwise unburdenod mules. saw a
dozen black and brown women mending
the carriage road in a part of the Bog
Walk, and besides their ability as road
makers, they are excellent hands at coal
ing a ship. At the sound of the bell on
a steamship companys wharf they emerge
from their dwellings in every part Of the
city, and in few minutes the dock i
jaE,-sG1th "coal whippers' anxious %
earn few shillings. These coal carriers
are among the most industrious peoplein
Kingston, and they work with steadi.
ness and alacrity that is surprising to one
who has heard nothing but stories of ne
gro idleness from the white people. They
carry twelve head loads of coal on board
a steamer for one penny equal to about
two cents in American money, and are
able to earn from a shilling to shilling
and threepence day. At night Their
wages are doubled. Most of the labor
of coaling the Transatlantic ships is done
at night, and il is then the carriers are in
their highest spirits. An unceasing flow
of song-the words, as nearly as could
catch them, sounding something like
80 Lord remember Mosesl"-is kept W
till long after midnight, and so much
work is accomplished by the inspiration
of the rude music that one feels bound Il
confess that the melody is not wasted
The Neva, in which / arrived at Kings
ton, il large screw-steamer, and th'
work of coaling her is no slight task
The ''coal whippers" begin to fill up he
hold at noon, and by six o'clock the mex
morning, not counting three-hours' spel
for breakfast, 500 tons, of 2240 pounds
had been put on board. In addition t.
the wages regularly earned by the car
riers Captain Cooper, the agent of tn
company generally give each of them
small gratuity, and this, even more thai
the payment of the money earned BY
them, insures their attendance upon tn
arrival of the next packet.
Even men like old Koratoe Marchant
an itinerant dealer in rags in Kingston
but more properly vender of the leave
of the mountain aloe, or korato, used il
securing pots-an occupation from whic
his name is derived-are useful class il
Jamaica, and by their industry, unin
portant though il seems, add some
thing to the promise of the future. ii
is now an old man, eighty years of age
and for nearly half of his long span q
existence he has been korato merchant
Old Korato is an excellent type of tn
traficking negroes, who may be seel
along the Bog Walk, or going up an
down the narrow roads of the mountain
declivities. Not only among the blacl
and colored people of Jamaica but ais
among the freed coolie, in Havana, and
indeed, whenever a race is poor and Ia
Dor is unremunerative, there is stronI
tendency to engage in trade in a SINAI
way. In the mountain ON the road
Newcastle is a sylvan market, caile'
Middletown Market, whore much of thi
small merchandise is done; and nearl
every village on the Island has erowde
market place. Fruits and vegetable
are the articles generally sold in thes
places. As the negroes are anxious :
obtain the highest prices for their pr
ducts, they generally seek the best mari
cts, and they often carry a basket I
yams all the way from Port Anionio' 9
the north side of Kingston, distance
seventy miles, 10 obtain an additions
shilling on the price of the whole g
y o. Stiihamer, IN Horen uayazi'ss.