Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-16
\ TRIP, ID THE TROPICS Last Letter From the State Her. aid Correspondent. IS NOW HOMEWARO BOUND Interesting Description of the Caymaras and Their nhabitants--A Delightful
  Voyage Nearly Ended.

Georgetown. Grand Cayman. Nov. 12, 1S95.-(Special Correspondence.l .l-It~ oc- CUTS to me that perhaps the readers of the State Herald might like to know how to reach this section of the country, where they can pass every day and all the day in open air. while their rnfortu- nate brethren are freezing to death in the north. The Atlas line of steamers run regularly from New York to Jamaica, but every spring the Plant system run a series of excursions from Tampa to Mon tego Bay and Kingston. It takes about ten days to make the round trip. If one is In no hurry he can get passage on schooner at any time from Mobile. as l did.
 But word to the wise. Don't steal ashore at night and sleep under the first bush or tree that presents itself, as did. l shuddder now to think what risk l ran on that night, for might have crawl chineel. This tree. the deadly upas of the West Indies. is one of the objects here to be avoided. It grows everywhere along low beaches and sandy shores and with it's glossy green leaves and bright yellow fruit Is so attractive that many a person has been lured to trouble by sleeping beneath its shades and eating of the fruit. It IS sate enough unless the leaves or bark are touched or bruised, but if the dew or rain drops fall upon the face or hands of one sleeping under the leaves the skin is blis- tered and swollen. As for the fruit, If one of the yellow apples are bitten the mouth and throat soon swell terribly and sometimes death ensues. If freshly gath cred branches of the manchineel are thrown into pond or sluggish stream containing fish, soon the finny occupants rise to the surface. gasping for air They may then be taken out of the water. but if left awhile they recover and swim away again. It is thought that the machineel deprives the water of it's oxy- gen, at least temporarily, and the fish have to come to the surface to breathe. The negroes say that the bark and leaves "burn the fish," but do not injure them or render them unfit for food.
 This is but one of the thousand inter- esting objects of nature that constantly present themselves.
 A visit to the Montego Bay cemetery furnished me pleasant occupation for one afternoon, reading queer epitaphs. one of which ran as follows: My wife lies here. All my tears cannot bring her back Therefore, weep"
 The cemetery is partitioned off Tor the use of the several denominations. The church of England was formerly en- dowed in Jamaica. but was dsestab- 1ished in 1870. The sectarian division of the population was as follows in 1891: Church of England ................ 4O2SS Baptists ................ ........... 5,42S Roman Catholics ................... 9292 All other Christian churches. .... 27414
 Totai ..',... :. .. I"c con d1i
 As the island has population Of 639,- 491, it appears that there are b04.070 souls not present or accounted for in any reIi- gious fold
 Free Masonry hourishes. There are several grand lodges. Odd Fellowship has been introduced, but hasn't large membership at present. The Good Tenn plars have about 1000 members, but as the product of rum is 2.50O.O00 gallons this allows 2500 gallons for each Good Templar to do away with
 The educational system of the island IS very good. There are about 900 ele- mentary schools with 75O0O pupils en- rolled. There is a high school in King ston and several training colleges for teachers, and a number Of free, priVate Industrial and parochia1 schools.
 Five daily newspapers are published Tn Kingston. Outside of Kingston there are published three weekly. two semi-weekly. seven monthly, three fortnightly and two tri-weekly papers. and quarterly re- view, none of which are of any account. These papers are very friendly to the limited States, and well they may be. for rJncle Sam is good customer. Jamaica exports $4, 750. 900 worth of her products to the United States and imports but $3,550.- 900 worth. the balance of trade, $1 ,2o0ooo being paid to Jamaica in gold.
 The judicial system is excellent. heinz presided over by English judges. There is a supreme court. two estates courts an admiralty court, and resident mag istrate in each parish. besides courts of petty session. The supreme court con- sists of one chief justice and two rnisne judges. All the judges must be members of the bar of England, Scotland or iIe- land of at least five years standing.
 The island is ruled over by governor. appointed by the crown at salary of 30,000 He is assisted by privy council and legislative council. partly appoint