Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-09-04
A VISIT TO JAMAICA.
sEcRET or THE PLANTERS sue.
CESS IN FINANCIAL MATTERS.

CESS IN FINANCIAL MATTERS.
Few Cane Fields, but Banana and Cocoa
nut Groves Everywbere--Port Royals
Decadence Beautiful Kingston Harbor.
Taking ~ Jolly Jamaica Hide.
The high Cuban mountains faded out OF
sight just before dark, and on Friday morn
ing, seven days after leaving New York, the
mountains OF Jamaica lay before us By the
| middle OF the morning we were close by the
orth side of the island, but as Kingston,
| bur destination, is on the iouth side, we still
had to go around the eastern end Of the
island and about half way up The south side
This sight OF land, the promised land for
most OF us on board, brought out all the
finery again. Those rough looking fellows
in flannel shirts and Scotch caps disappeared,
and in their places there came out on deck
wonders of starched linen and black coats,
and marvels Of summer bonnets and silk
| dresses. As we ran along the Jamaican
shore we had fine chance to see something
| OF the island, for we were not more than q
mile away-and in that clear air and bright
sunshine mile is nothing. There were
houses on shore-that was one of the first
things we noticed-some good, big and COM
Portable looking houses, too, surrounded by
| great plantations of cocoanut trees, and in
| other places cane fields.
This popularity at once distinguished
Jamaica from the other islands we had
passed. At Fortune Island we were favored
with the sight of one little house. In Cuba,
not single building Of any kind nor living
| creature, though we went close enough to
have seen a cat walking on the beach, Moth
l<..~ L
end of Cuba-rugged mountains, bare rocks,
and utter solitude When Columbus first
saw the island it could not have been more
as nature made and left it, at the east end,
than it is today. And this least end" as far
as its ruggeiness and barrenness 60 extends
half way down the island nearly. We in the
north are apt to think of Cuba as a vast gar
den spot, covered with cane fields and green
tobacco. But this is a mistaken notion. The
cultivated land is a surprisingly small pro-
portion of the surface, and every year it
grows smaller, if anything can grow" small
er. The same cyclone that has hit all other
West India islands has not passed Cuba
Away back in 1900 there were more than
1900 coffee plantations in Cuba; now there
are-quien sabes-p probably less than 200, and
the others have gone to seed.
SEEN FROM THE SEA.
But the aspect of Jamaica is very different.
Seen from the sea, the entire island seems to
be under cultivation. 1t has, indeed, many
high mountains but the mountain land is
some Of the best on the island, producing
coffee that is second to none in quality or
price. Away up almost to the mountain tops
are cultivated fields. Down by the shore are
some of the largest cocoanut groves have
ever seen, numbering their trees by thousands,
with vessels moored alongside waiting to
carry away the ripened nuts. And bananasi
Bananas growing everywhere, wherever a
shoot can he set out! The houses to be seen
are generally large and low, as open as pos
sible to let in the breeze. Cane fieldsa Very
few, and therein lies the secret of Jamaica's
keeping herself afoat, while all the neighbor-
ing islands are struggling with bankruptcy
Instead of waiting in vain for sugar to pay
again, as they are doing, the Jamaica plant
ers plowed up their cane fields and went tc
raising bananas and cocoanuts, and now de
rive the greater part of their incomes from
these articles of ready and profitable sale
So Jamaica gentleman and fruit grower OF
the steamer told ME, and certainly this first
look at the island seems to confirm his state
. ment, for there are bananas and cocoanuts
growing everywhere.
How many pirate ship has sailed alone
this same shore that we are hugging S,
closely Old Port Royal, now just COMING
into sight, used to be the headquarters of al
these fellows. There they squandered tn
gold they captured on the high seas Their
found rest after their long, hard voyages
Poor fellows, they needed rest, of course
after their arduous labor of capturing ant
plundering all the ships they could But Por
Royal is no more. Once one of the creates
\
believe, only Lima and Mexico exceeding i
S in size and wealth-it is now a hot littl
town of few hundred inhabitants. Stand
ing as it does on the end of an exceedingly
narrow strip of land that juts out into til
sea, one wonders where there ever coul
have been room for great city. But tn
earthquake that destroyed the city an
, killed nearly all its inhabitants sank a goo
share of the land into the sea, and today W
could, if we were to go over the spot in a row
), boat, see the crumbling ruins of some of tn
$ buildings that on that fatal day were burie
forever.
BEAUTIFUL KINGSTON HARBoR.
This tongue of land, on which stands til
! remains of Port Royal, forms the beautifl
Kingston harbor, into which the Alvo slowl
steams at o'clock on the seventh day OF
from New York Kingston lies before u
about twenty miles away, on the edge of u
almost level plain. Behind it, perhaps te
miles inland, the mountains begin to ris
and continue up, up, till their peaks are To-
in the Clouds 1t is beautiful sight undo
: this hot tropical sun. Cocoanut trees ever,
where, far overlapping the houses of Pc
Royal and lining the shore. Forts to ii
right of us, forts to the left of u.s. One migl
think the whole world had banded togeth,
to capture this little island of Jamaica, fro
the number and size of its forts.
( Gradually we approach the city, and slow
[ the pleasant voyage draws to close. King
q ton, a city of 1000 inhabitants, is almost i
visible, hidden by its trees. The streets a
full of them, the yards, the parks-so it loo
I, from the water There are ships in Il
e harbor, of course; a dozen ste tanners, perhal
9 and any number of sailing vessels. The Al'
is drawn up to the Atlas line wharf, and v
are beset by an army of hotel runners, wi
have all the cheerful characteristics of the
/, brethren in New York. But with them con
i some of the friends through whose invitatit
e this voyage has been undertaken. ~
J, weather? Well, comfortably warm; and Il
:. surrounding darkies look on dismayed to S
y the number of heavy coats our party pl
: into the carriages. So, in one of the gorgeo