La Junta tribune., 1912-07-13
INTERESTING STORY OF
ISLAND OF JAMAICA
RS. Arthur II. Swift. who ac-
companied by her mother.
Mrs. Eliza Stubbs, came to
La JuntA Monday from

MTS. Eliza StuOOs, came 10
- La Junta Monday from
Wichita. Kan. and is 4 guest In the
home OF her brother, DR.. A. L..
Stubs. has been for nineteen years
a missionary In the Island OF Jamai.
ca, She went to that place In 1893
with her husband. A. II. Swift. un-
der the direction Of the Iowa board
Of the Friends church. Her husband
WAS made superintendent OF the small
mission with its forty-five members
and supervised the work efficiently
and with great honor. until three
years ago when he died and Mrs.
Swift became superintendent
Mrs. Swift. whose nineteen years
residence In Jamaica has made her
familiar with the country and It's
people. speaks most earnestly and
most Interestingly of the island and
OF her work. and must be heard to
be adequately appreciated. She
spoke the first of the island. giving
little bits OF history and describing
it's surface and it's climate. As
nearly every one knows. Jamaica Is
the largest island among the Brit
ish West Indies and lies southeast
of the United States about ninety
miles from Cuba and between the
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf Of Mcxi-
CO. II IL forty-nine miles wide at IT'S
widest portion and is about $50 miles
long. AS IL lies only eighteen de-
grees from the equator us climate
is tropical. but is greatly tempered
by the moutains that form the
backbone OF the island. and by the
sea winds.
OF Industries agriculture is the
chief and bananas are the principal
crop. although other tropical fruits
NaA cocoanuts are pRoducsd N ahan.
Aeses aa1 ssvssso1, -, .----
tlGaeslSl. q
fact most travslers say. unsurpassed
4 great road called the Kings High
way. circles the island. bordering
the ocean. This road Ia made Of
crushed rock which. under the pres
sure Of constant use. has become
like macadam.
The population Is divided into
casts rather than classes-the dis
tinction being culture. not color. and
consists OF $1,000 whites. descend.
ants OF the early English settlers
and missionaries. lso. 900 black de
scsndants OF the Africans brought to
Jamaica ss slaves In earlier years
by the English. iS3. 900 coiorcd mon.
grels OF mixed white and black
breed: and II 900 East Indians. these
latter being coolies that are brought
In from India by the government 10
work the properties--to cultivate
land and especially to gather crops
Of pinespples and bananas. They are
brought from India by their own con
sent In English ships. each property
holder having specified the number
needed by him. and come with the
understanding that each must re-
main ten years. Five years Of this
time belong TO the property owners
who. under promise To the govern
mcnt. look sitter the Indians ply.
steal welfare and pay them = certain
wage. A. the expiration Of five
years they are free 10 70 where they
please and work Tor whom they will
on the island. and At the expiration
Of ten years. II they wish to return
to their native land they Are given
twelve pounds In money and sent
back on English ships. but II they
~ish To remain and become citisrns
they are given either the twelve
pounds or its equivalent and are e.
tabiished upon government land Ia
the mountains.
Il 10 among the blacks and thu
coolies that the mission workers nm
the greatest nsed and their great
est opportunity. These are stiil
wedded To their superstittons and q
their idols. Mrs. Swift declares that
the witch Cox tor known % the
Ob~ahman 10 the stroaGest essny "a
the Chrissiaa influesce--ths greatest
hindrance 70 missionary worn. Ths
coolis childrsn that becoms orpAssa
are givea by The eovernneet intn
the care Of the nission. the eovesn'
ment farnishtag . csftaia allowaAcs
enr the support a secA .aal Ar.owif|
says hat The Chrteeias iaflusacs Il
nosl telling aal iastiAs WITH tAsss
nase ls1iaa espAans beeaues tAsy
coos satirsiy us1ss ~ care ssl
kssDtas q ~ 0ieoleao ~ On
beougAt - n ~ he0ee G ~ ~