Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-26

among the hill tops is the residence of
 Governor Blake. The game of lawn ten- his was in progress on the grounds, but wherever you find an Englshman there you find the game of tennis being played.-
 If England provides as well for all of her public servants as she has done for
 the governor of Jamaica, then I must say that an English office is well worth having.
 As had long journey and much up- hill work didn't lose much time in gag
 ing at the governors handsome white
 residence, with it's beautifully laid out gardens. I passed several ponderous three wheeled carts drawn by six oxen These curious vehicles are used for haul ing immense hQssheadssof sugar to mar ket from the sugar plantations several of which I passed While resting under tremendous silk cotton tree I heard the solitaire, or Jamaica nightingale, the only songbird on the island. I am told that there are many birds of brilliant plum age and several varieties of parrots to be found in the recesses of remote for ests in the mountains. The country is infested with bright little lizards. As they are harmless and are great destroy CTS of flies, mosquitoes and other "birds of prey" they became objects of great in- terest to me.
 While resting on the roadside. sur rounded by crowd of inquisitve na- tives I saw curious little animal run across the road. It was an animal of which I had heard great deal-the mon goose-which was imported from India for the purpose of ridding this fair mem Der of the Antilles of the sugar rat, which devastated whole fields of grow ing cane. This movement was inaugu- rated about the year 1878 by the repre- sentatiyes from the parish of Clarendon, who introduced in the legislative council resolution authorizing the introduction of the mongoose Subsequently this leg iSlatnr nprqOpal1U secured SaVara1 t,a it.So of them and turned the strangers loose.
 The sugar rat whose natural enemy is the mongoose is black and about the size of the ordinary wharf rat known in Mobile. They gnaw the stalk of the sugar cane within a few inches of the ground, until weakened. the stalk falls. This frightens them and the rats seek shelter in flight. Instead of returning to the fallen stalk. upon which they could feast they attack other growing cane, thus devastating the whole field. The loss resulting to the planters each year from this enemy ran into thousands Of dollars.
 It did not require many years for the mongoose to rid the island of sugar rats. They bred rapidly and within short time were plentiful in all parts Of Ja- miaca. When the rats became scarce they attacked the snakes, and they occu- py the position to Jamaica that St. Pat rick does to Ireland in regard to reptiles. No matter how venomous the snake the mongoose attacked 1t, and in nearly eve ry case came off victorious.
 The rats and snakes disposed of, the mongoose commenced devourlng every thing living that crossed his path. The eggs and young of all the game birds, such as quail and wild pigeons. became his prey. Young and even full grown domestic chickens suffered. not only in the rural districts, but even within the city limits of places like Kingston. Their depredations have been so great that during the past few years they have materially decreased the numper or "John crows" Gurkey buzzards), the pub lie Scavengers of the tropics. They have been known to kill and suck the blood of young goats, calves, pigs and other small animals and not few children or the natives have likewise met their death at the jaws of this pest.
 About eight years ago the mongoose had become such menace to the welfare of the island that the question came up In the legislative council: "How can we get rid of the mongoose?" Each suc- ceeding year the question has become more. pertinent and harder to solve. The planters and natives are setting traps for them and doing everything possible to diminish their numbers, but still they continue to multiply.
 In general appearance the mongooSe is something like large squirrel, only of light, yellowish brown color. Fashioned something like woodchuck, having short strong legs, it appears to glide over the ground going at very rapid pace. It's body is about 10 inches long and it has bushy tail of about the same length It's claws are sharp and power full. The mongoose- makes an inclsion near the head and sucks the blood. The people of Jamaica are putting forth every effort to rid themselves of this pest but am afraid they are at tempting an impossibility. It is dom icied on an island filled with rocks, hills and inaccessible places covered with thickly growing brush. Nothing, in my opinion, will destroy the mongoose ex- cept a universal fire, and that would carry everything else off with it. It was at one time suggested, and even contemplated by the legislative council, to offer bounty for their pelts, but ex- perienced observers affirmed that even this could not rid the island to any per ceptible degree and would cost large amount of money This being the expe- rience of the Jamaicans with the mon goose, let us pray that no misguided in dividual will aff1ict the United States
 with the pest.