A GENERAL VIEW OF THE ANCIENT STATE AND

INHABITANTS.

CHAPTER I.

GEOGRAPHICAL Arrangement.-Climate.-Sea-breeze, and

Land wind-Beauty and singularity of the vegetable and ani-

mal creation.-Magnificence and sublimity of the mountains:

reflections concerning the origin of the West Indian islands,

Page 1.

c.

CHAPTER II.

Of the Charaibes, or ancient inhabitants of the Windward islands.

-Origin.-Difficulties attending an accurate investigation of

their character.-Such particulars related as are least disputed

concerning their manners and dispositions, persons and domestic

habits, education of their children, arts, manufactures, and

government, religious rites, funeral ceremonies, &c.—Some re-

flections drawn from the whole

27

CHAPTER III.

Of the natives of Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, and Porto-Rico.

-Their origin.-Numbers.—Persons.-Genius and disposi

tions.-Government and religion.—Miscellaneous observations

respecting their arts, manufactures and agriculture.—Cruelty of

the Spaniards, &c.

59

CHAPTER IV.

Land animals used as food.-Fishes and wild fowl.—Indian me-

thod of fishing and fowling.-Esculent vegetables, &c.—Con.

clusion

APPENDIX TO BOOK I.

95

Discovery of Jamaica by Columbus.-His return in 1503.—Spi-

rited proceedings of his son Diego, after Columbus's Death.-

Takes possession of Jamaica in 1509.-Humane conduct of

Juan de Esquivel, the first Governor.-Establishment and de-

sertion of the town of Sevilla Nueva.-Destruction of the In-

dians.St. Jago de la Vega founded.-Gives the title of Mar-

quis to Diego's son Lewis, to whom the island is granted in perpe-

tual sovereignty-Descends to his sister Isabella, who conveys

her rights by marriage to the House of Braganza.-Reverts to

the crown of Spain, in 1640-Sir Anthony Shirley invades the

island in 1596, and Gol. Jackson in 1638

127

CHAPTER II.

Cromwell vindicated for attacking the Spaniards in 1655.-

Their cruelties in the West Indies, in contravention of the trea-

ty of 1630.-Proposals offered by Modyford and Gage.-Forci-

ble arguments of the latter.-Secretary Thurloe's account of a

conference with the Spanish ambassador.-Cromwell's demand

of satisfaction rejected.-State of Jamaica on its capture...150

CHAPTER III.

Proceedings of the English in Jamaica after its capture.-Colonel

D'Oyley declared president.-Discontents and mortality among

the army.-Vigorous exertions of the Protector.-Colonel Brayne

appointed commander in chief.-His death.-D'Oyley reassumes

the government.-Defeats the Spanish forces, which bad inva-

ded the island from Cuba.-His wise and steady administration.

-Bucaniers-Conciliating conduct of Charles II. on his resto-

ration. First establishment of a regular government in Jamai-

ca.-Lord Windsor's appointment.—Royal proclamation.—Ame-

rican treaty in 1670.—Change of measures on the part of the

crown.-New constitution devised for Jamaica.-Earl of Car-

lisle appointed chief governor for the purpose of er forcing the new

system.-Successful opposition of the assembly.-Subsequent dis-

putes respecting the confirmation of their laws.-Terminated by

the revenue act of 1728

169

CHAPTER IV.

Situation.-Climate.-Face of the Country.-Mountains, and

advantages derived from them.-Soil.-Lands in culture.-

Lands uncultivated, and observations thereon.-Woods and Tim-

bers.-Rivers and Medicinal Springs.-Ores.-Vegetable clas-

ses.-Grain.-Grasses.-Kitchen-garden produce, and fruits for

the table, &c. &c.

200

CHAPTER V.

Topographical description.-Towns, villages, and parishes.— Churches, church-livings, and vestries.-Governor or commander in chief.-Courts of judicature.—Public offices.—Legislature and laws.-Revenues.-Taxes.-Coins, and rate of exchange,-Militia.-Number of inhabitants of all conditions and complexions.-Trade, shipping, exports and imports.-Report of the Lords of Trade, in 1734-Present state of the trade with Spanish America.-Origin and policy of the act for establishing free ports.-Display of the progress of the island in cultivation, by comparative statements of its inhabitants and products at different periods.

· 220

APPENDIX TO BOOK II. No. I. General state of agriculture and negro population in the island of Jamaica.

APPENDIX TO BOOK II. No. II.

263

An account of the number of sugar plantations in the island of Jamaica in 1772, and again in 1791, distinguishing the parishes; also the number in each parish which were sold in the interim, for the payment of debts ;—the number remaining in 1791 in the hands of mortgagees, trustees or receivers ;-the number thrown up and abandoned, or converted into other cultivation between the two periods.-And the number of new plantations recently settled..

Historical Account of the Constitution of Jamaica

264

269

284

Observations on the disposition, character, manners, and habits of life, of the MAROON NEGROES of the island of JAMAICA, and a detail of the origin, progress, and termination of the late war between those people and the White inhabitants. 337

THE HISTORY,

CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL,

OF THE

BRITISH COLONIES

IN THE

WEST INDIES.