New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
DRIVES THROUGH JAMAICA.
WINTER SCENES IN THE INTERIOR OF TIKI
BEAUTIFUL ISLAND


West Indies
There are few more lovely islands in the world than
this land of woods and rivers and the Jamaicans are
hoping that the facilities for reaching the island
Improve every year. and provision Is now made
for dccenty housing visitors. by the building OF good
hotels the island will become fashionable American
winter resort.
The steamers take five days to reach Kingston from
! New York, and though they are by no means floating
! palaces still they fairly comfortable. and
| after one passes Cape lIateras the weather IS
| generally delightful Watng's Island one OF the
Bahama group is the first land sighted and then tile
ship sails close under the cliffs bf the east end OF
Cuba BY daylight of the fifth day the steamer rounds
the eastern end Of Jamaica and there is no moro
beautiful sight Right aStsrn the slowly rises ont
! of the sea- having gradually tinged win gold cach
| peak OF the Blue Mountain range, revealing deep
valleys up which the mistS that have accumulated In
the night hurry to Join the clouds that cluster ronnd
the Peak itself thin strip OF sand. seven miles
| long called the Palisades. which ends with the rem
nant of the old Port Royal forms natural breakwacr
for the harbor Of Kingston There are forts guarding
| tho entrance for Port Royal has naval dochyaid
and is ono OF the line Of coal depots OF the British
Empire Kingston itself is a wretchcd place. ana
the great thing Is to get ont Of 1t as soon as possible
The hotel at Constant Spring is forty minutes drive
from the wharf and there You arc out OF all Tie giafo
| and heat and dust of the city.
The exhibition is north OF the racecourse which itself
is lust out OF town. If It is Intended TO make winter
stay in Jamaica, the best way to onloy
! the visit and TO the island Is TO drive
! over IL. But don't be in hurry about II. Good
horses. about fifteen hands. can be bought for
| 800 each good both for draught and riding.
second hand buggy good enough for the work. can bo
| boucbt for $3.50 Get new set OF harness. Round
| about Constant Spring and Halfway Tree are many
| pretty lanes where one can thoroughly enjoy morn
ING or evening ride. Each bunch Of grass Is alive WIN
small birds. while morning glory opopanaN ana OTTER
crecpcrs make the hedges bright with different coors
4 visit should be made to Newcastle. military station
600 feet up the mountains. The officers always gvo
visitors a hearty welcome and one will never forget
the views from this perch in the mountains, and tho
walk through the "erny glen" where at every step
one sees some variety, from the treeern 10 mo
| most delicate madenhar
one great thing to do before going to Jamaica is TO
get letters of Introduction Of the inhabitants
These Will be found invaluable Two or three are al
tia, you want. for planter will send YOU on to tho
next and YOU are sure to meet with hearty reception
| everywhere.
trip round the island last year. in which tho
writer was one OF the party, will give some faint IDEA
Of tho charm Of such journey Three weeks trial haf
convinced us that horses were safe and would not
finch at the hills that should have to drive over
and furthermore that the buggy was strong one
We took the train TO Spanish Town. the st. lago ne
| Vega Of tho Spaniards and after admirlne
the old Government House. with its assembly
rooms and public Offices forming fine square
We began our long drive. leaving The nearly
deserted town. with its crumbing evidences
II past prosperity, behind. The Jamaica roads are
excellent. They are certainly the best on this side
Of the Atlantic. and soon at the mouth OF
! the Bog Walk BOca dAgua) long gorge through
| which the Rio Cobre dashes down rocky rapid
and then hardly seems 10 flow through strctch oi
deep water that reflects the beautiful scenery 1t was
an ideal day. We were tempted to pluck great bou-
ducs OF madcnhar fern that draped In the tendcr''t
green the small caves that frlnged tho road. our first
stop at Lnstead. pretty townlct In the parish
| % ST Thomas in the Vale" We in the arena
II an amphitheatre formed by the surrounding mis-
New 10 tropical scenery and tropical ways we wanted
TO the market people come In with inc various
products Of their holdings. motley crew, all laugh
ing: but very earnest when II came 70 making bar
GAIN and most of them women furbelowcd as to their
skirt, and pcttlcoats, and exposing feet rcddusted
Hat and large. our days journey was over Mount
Diabolo IL hard pull for the horses. to the house
! O, one Of the great horse breeders IN the
| island II was situated at the top OF
! the many rounded hills that look down
on every side into Unity Valley. That night the fire
and lantern flies held high rcycl Illuminating every
where with thousand moving lights Our next days
! tourney was 10 St AIMS Bay, bnsy town on the
| north coast Of the island There are two ROADS from
| Unity Valley to st. AIMS Day, one direct ana the
fu defc down which rlvule trlckles. cool breeze
came ND from the sea: So We walked down most OF
! the way, making collection OF ferns. AZ the mouth
II the gully IS the small Of Ocho Rios and nov"
r the first time we saw all round the pimeuto or
| all,pclA The trees about thirty feet mgh WIN
thick foliage dark green leaves that are as aromatic
- tho berries themselves. overlapping these small
frees were hundreds of cocoanut trees that grew down
IA the edge of the beach, which one Of white sand
rhc sea having green appearance as 1t rolled over
| the coral beds. We had been advised to leave the
eastern end Of the island alone for though 1t beau
full there are number Of rivers TO cross ana there
are bridges
our road now followed the seashore. and. aner
crossing one or streams came to the Roaring kver
ra.ls These are small but pretty, the water
| tumblInr from ledge to ledge looking daz-
znc white I'm the sunlight while all around
are ferns bcgonias. moses that one only ses
| in the tropics, aud feathcry palms N'er a oa'"
in the pool drove to ST. AIMS Bsy, ana ha'ihg
hreuch letter Of introduction from our host OF the
prcyious night were warmly welcomed at seville
Great House, a name that is always given to the
home Of the proprietor Of a sugar estate The spanish
town Of Nuova seville stood where now are only sugar
canes aud there is not trace oil IL lei'' so'c SIN
| miles from here saw a curious slSht-a river puisV
ing ont of the side OF the mountain Forty miles III
land the IIcctors River suddenly disappears ana aitc
boring its way through the limestone mountains
tuplc into a great pool at the Landovery estate ana
then flows on to the sea-
The road still hugs the seashOre, but there arc
changes In the view at every turn. ana some Oh thc
rather saddcning for one passes many an aDahuohe"
estate the sugar fields mass OF rank vcgetatlo' inc
buildings all in ruins. Another Silent recoru ol oS
gone DAYS are clusters Of cocoanut trees generally on
the side Of some small hil little distance from inc
ined hou,es These tall trees, twisted into all sorts
Of curves mark where formerly were the nuts oil the
slaves. 49,,
AT Runaway Bay, the place of embarhation OF tho
last of the spaniars when they sailed away ior ouo
a road turns inland and we turned our BACKS OH ''o
sea- 1t was steady pull against the collar for some
miles Int we were In no hurry. We were in wooded
country again ebony trees a blaze OF yellow hshum
vitae either in blue white flower, and crccpes Vi
different sorts made here and there patch OF coior
| OF animal and bird life there is little In Jamaica a