The History of Jamaica Book

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This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
rable doths, which are well-adapted to the frozen zone, will not anfwer here; and the atmofphere corrodes every kind of iron or fteel ware very quickly. The demand therefore for numberlefs products of the home induftry is (from a train of invariable caufes) likely to continue as long as thefe colonies continue to exift. Here are none of the fubftantial inhabitants who do not keep their coacli or chariot with four or fix horfes. The (hop-keepers have theic two-wheel chaifes, or kitereens[/] ; and they who cannot afford a carriage, even to the pooreft free Negroe, will not be without a faddle-horfe or two. As this is an inland-town, it derives its chief fupport from the refidence of the governor and publick officers; the gentlemen of the law; the aflembly and council; and the conflux of people who refort hither from the country parts on bofinefs, particularly during the fittings of the fupreme or grand court of law near four months in the year; and the feffion of the aflembly, which generally lafts from the beginning of October till the Chriftmas holidays. At thefe times universal gaiety prevails; balls, concerts, and routs, alternately hoW their reign. The governor, according to antient cuftom, gives a ball and en- / tertainment once a year at the king's houfe, in honour of his rm- jefty's birth-day. The appearance of company on this occafion j is generally brilliant, the ladies vying with one another i the richnefs of their drefles; every one makes a point of exhibiting anew fuit of finery; and this regulation is fo lavimly indulged, that fuch a ball is feldom attended with left than three or four thoufand pounds expence to the guefts, which however is fo far ex- cufable, as it is laid out in B'ritifh manufactures [/]. When the town is full of company, here is a very good market; ...