The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-24

Society. Washington D. c.
"HE fertility of rural jamaica
affords such abundant food for
h slight exertion, and the mild
climate requires so little shell
ter, that this area is typical region
Of little work and much rest.
The Jamaica negro can exist and
subsist with slight exertion-and he
does. In the rural sea-level districts
in particular there is no need for
steady exertion the year round.
House rent demands no place, gen.
orally speaking, in the rural dwelling
Jamaican blacks budget. He can
build his own home of heavy grass
and thatch 1t with banana leaves, or
he can make 1t of mud and thatch,
with cobbled floor. The more prosper
Gus among the natives build wood
houses out Of old packing cases, scraps
of cast-off corrugated roofing, iattened
kerosene-can tin, and the like. Trop-
ical vines soon hide the patchwork,
for Dame Nature is great healer Of
scars.
Nor is clothing pressing problem
with the rural blacks. The children
may run naked during the tender
years. The womenfolk dress in cot
ton gowns, which they wear as long
as there is a piece left, barring Sum
days, when they appear neatly and be-
comingly attired, and those occasions
when they go into the city to market
The men wear long cotton drawers or
the remains of trousering, shady shirts,
and battered, frayed straw hats; but,
In good sooth, who cares?
Now and then in passing along the
roads one has q flash of a turbaned
| figure of the East, or his shy woman
kind in head scarf with silver orna-
ments on arm and ankle and now and
then nose jewel, giving touch Of
oriental atmosphere to the mellow
scenery.
Earned Money In Panama.
The building of the Panama canal
afforded the Jamaican negro an oppor-
tunity to earn some money, and at the
same time to see what he thought was
quite bit of the world. During the
construction period almost every ship
that sailed from Kingston to Colon
had its quota Of workmen bound for
the Canal Zone.
On the whole, the rural jamaican
negro Is a likable individual; quite as
irresponsible as a child, usually as
much given to exaggeration; indiffer-
ent enough to modernity to be pic
turesque, respectful and retiring
enough to be interesting; and one re-
tains pleasant memories Of the ma
tives, content to be what they are,
and as a class, law-abiding in major
matters, however much they may in
dulge in petty misdemeanors.
One may charter a sturdy automo-
bile at really reasonable price for
tour around the island, leaving
Kingston over road that follows the
coast almost it's entire length. Pres
entity, at Harbor Head, one comes to
the Naval Watering place established
by Admiral Vernon, under whom
served Lawrence Washington and for
whom our shrine on the Potomac,
Mount Vernon, was named. The old
conduit is still visible. When the sail
ors found that it saved them from rolk
ing heavy casks long distances in the
hot sun, they said, "God bless the
Admiral !" But when they found it
curtailed their shore leave, the saying
was shortened and less pious.
A little farther on is Albion, one of
Jamaica's historic sugar estates, and
beyond lie Yallahs and Morant bay,
the latter with its reminders and men,
cries Of the Rebellion of 1866, in which
Gordon essayed to be the John Brown
Of Jamaica.
Swinging along road over which
you can comfortably make 25 miles
on hour isn't hardship, by any means.
especially when the roadway passes
through a beautiful country dotted
with quaint villages and Old World
scenes.
About 40 miles from Kingston, in
the parish Of St. Thomas, is the little
town of Bath, and nearby certain min
eral hot springs that are justly ia
nous for their curative properties and
made this beautiful spot gathering
place for Jamaican aristocracy as far
back as two hundred years.
Port Antonio Worth Seeing.
Beyond, on the eastern extremity Of
the island, Is Manchioneal, the scene
of some Of the exploits of SCOTS "Tom
| Cringle." And then, as you motor
along the foot of the John Crow noun
tains, past the Blue Hole, which so
well deserves it's name, eye-filling Wis
tas Of unrivaled beauty in the great
bays and mountain side are unfolded,
and in very few hours, that all too
quickly pass, Port Antonio looms into
view, with its splendid two har-
bors, the westernmost of which is the
best in the island.
In 1921 strenuous efforts were made
by the Jamaican government to estab-
| lish a settlement there. Thirty acres
FOR every white person were offered
and five acres for every slave i'm
ported, provided some part Of each
tract should be cultivated. This fail
/ ing to bring enough immigrants, in
| l723 two barrels Of beef and one bar
] raj of flour were added as a bonus.
Later four barrels Of beef and 400
| pounds of biscuit. or bread. were Of
| fered to each white newcomer, and