Tree, raising their heads above their brethren of the forest, are without doubt deserving of that attention which their elevated rank in the vegetable kingdom imperiously demands. Of the Palmeto Royal, or Mountain Cabbage, Mr. Hughes, who wrote the history of Barbadoes, observes, "that the highest which he recollects to have seen in his time was 134 feet in height." Mr. Edwards, speaking from personal knowledge, says, "that in the island of Jamaica he has seen them upwards of 150 feet high, as well as calculation, unassisted by actual measurement, could ascertain; and Ligon, to whom Mr. Edwards appeals, mentions some at the first settlement of Barbadoes, which were not less than 200 feet in height. "Neither the tall Cedars of Lebanon, nor any trees of the forest, are equal to it (says Mr. Hughes) in height, beauty, or proportion." Like those mighty rivers, which grace the Southern Continent of America, and demand a place on maps of the most diminutive size, the Palmeto rises superior to the whole vegetable race, and stands, for its height and beauty, among the wonders of productive nature.

The Cedar and Mahogany swelling to an enormous size, not unfrequently measure nearly 90 feet, from the base to the first branches, which spread at that height from their trunks. These

cannot reflect on without horror. Having exterminated the natives, and being glutted with human blood, they sunk down into a national apathy, regardless of the native beauties of the soil which they inhabited; and lived chiefly, on those spontaneous productions of nature with which the islands abounded.

In the mean time the wild but native vigour of the soil and climate co-ope rating together, produced a variety of noxious weeds and deleterious plants, It was, in reality, such a place as the enemies of Columbus have represented all the islands to have been, on his first discoveries of, and primary visits to them. And such, in all probability, would it have remained until the present day, had it continued in their hands; which we may fairly infer by only adverting to the condition of the principal parts of Cuba and Porto Rico; which, though surrounded by the industry of neighbouring islands, which tends in general to stimulate exertion, and prompt to action, are, at this moment, chiefly calcu lated to confer disgrace on their possessors.

The Spaniards in Jamaica, when it was taken from them, under the direc tion of Cromwell in 1655, as well as the island on which they resided, exhibited a wretched picture of human nature in disgrace. Enervated by sloth, and sunk in indolence; enfeebled by luxury, and stupified through inactivity; their mental and bodily powers proved their relation to each other; and strong symptoms were discoverable in them, that they were fast verging towards a state similar to that which the country pourtrayed. They appeared at no great distance from a state of barbarism; and, on this account, became an easy prey. But these facts and circumstances will appear more conspicuous, when we come to the particular description of each island. The characters of the natives, and the sentiments of Columbus, on the fertility and state of the country, will appear from a letter which he wrote to the king of Spain from Cuba. It will be inserted a few pages hence, for the satisfaction of the reader, who may then judge for himself.

trees seem admirably adapted to the climate in which they grow; and contribute, amid the scorching heats, which occasionally rage with almost intolerable violence, to relieve the inhabitants, by opening those cool and sequestered recesses which their shades afford. It is an awning which nature has provided, and adapted to these torrid climates, to relieve the inhabitants from those periodical inconveniences, to which they must be more or less exposed in every portion of this burning zone.

But these trees, lofty and enormous as they are, can stand in no competition, in point of bulk, with the Ceiba, or Wild Cotton Tree. It is a tree which seems admirably adapted to the purposes of Indian navigation; by which the natives are furnished with canoes, suited to those local expeditions which circumscribe their exploits; and in which the productions of nature seem to have superseded the achievements of art. To such prodigious magnitudes have these trees grown, that, without any additional timbers, and without any other art, than that which laborious exertion supplied in scooping and hollowing them into a concave form, they have been known to carry from 60 to 100 persons.

Nor were the bounties of Providence less conspicuous to the first voyagers through the medium of nature, in the number and fertility of those trees which were more immediately productive of fruit. In these the favours of infinite Goodness were scattered with an unsparing hand. The tender bud, the opening blossom, or the mellow fruit, never forsook these islands; nor ceased to clothe the hills and savannas with perpetual verdure, through all the changing seasons of the year. The various fruits, which are peculiar to these tropical regions, are too well known to need any description; they have found their way into Europe; and the natural productions of these islands, after undergoing a necessary process, constitute one of the most considerable branches of commerce that exists this day on the habitable globe.

The larger, or leeward islands, being thickly peopled, when first discovered by Columbus, with a mild and hospitable race, presented grounds which were not wholly in an uncultivated state. It is true the natives had no intercourse with foreign nations, and only raised what their necessities demanded. They wanted no influx of wealth, and they had no insatiable avarice, or ambition, to gratify; they raised nothing for exportation, nor carried their notions of aggrandizement beyond those islands which bounded their abodes. But their numbers were great, and though individual exertion was but small, the aggregate was considerable; and finally resulted in beneficial effects. Their savannas being regularly sown twice a year with Maize,

by such amazing numbers as first peopled these islands, who had little else to engage their attention, must have been considerable to afford them any support. But the work being performed by such numbers, it could be accomplished without much difficulty; while a double harvest in such a fruitful climate must have yielded a considerable supply. But great as this supply might have been, it could not have been adequate to their wants. The productions of all-prolific nature constituted their greatest resource, and beguiled them of confidence in the utility of their own industry. The unfading springs of perennial vegetation had obtained an ascendency over their minds, and matured a rehance which a few temporary disasters could not shake. Their Maize seemed calculated to supply some comparative inconveniences; they had recourse to this on occasional circumstances, and trusted nature for all the rest.

But the benefits which resulted from this cultivation, did not immediately terminate with the harvests which succeeded to reward their toil. By the culture of their lands, they cleared them of noxious weeds, and of those useless shrubs which would have impeded the progress of those breezes, which are so necessary to salubrity; and through the astonishing elevation of the trees, together with the height at which the branches began to sprout, a free circulation was further opened to the breezes, which must have contributed greatly to establish the health of the natives.

In these alcoves of nature, which the interwoven foliage of the trees contributed to make, the natives must have found a sylvan recess. The irregular avenues, opening in every direction, must have invited the refreshing gales, as through an immense number of irregular but stately pillars, which seemed planted by nature to support an unfading canopy, placed above to parry the solar blaze. In these cool retreats, equally adapted for permanent habitation, or occasional retirement, they found protection or shelter, as occasional circumstances required. In the midst of heats which were almost insupportable, they were furnished with a refuge from their intenseness; and in the autumnal rains, they enjoyed in these abodes a defence from the impending cataract. Such was this delightful country when discovered by Columbus; and such, under changes of circumstances, is the general view of these islands in the present day!*

* In thus characterizing the climate at large, it is not the design of the author to insinuate, that it is to be considered as salubrious or insalubrious in the abstract. Generally speaking, these terms are but relative, and can only receive their respective denominations from the various subjects to which they apply. Men are suited to their native habitations; and the temperature of the atmosphere which is congenial to some constitutions, proves to others the

They have some permanent characters, which the ravages of time can hardly alter; which appear to be inseparable from their peculiar situation; and which must therefore be much

bane of life. Many things therefore must be taken into the account, before either the salubrity or insalubrity of these extensive territories can be admitted as of universal application.

Since the discovery of these regions by Columbus, natives of almost every maritime nation in Europe have flocked thither in pursuit of wealth. Men, issuing from almost every latitude between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle, must of necessity have carried into this burning climate, some constitutions which had been previously formed for the habitation of colder zones. The intense heat of these islands must therefore of necessity be but badly adapted either to promote or secure the health of all these adventurers. Wheir we contemplate the vast range of latitude which lies between Denmark and some of the African shores, and behold the inhabitants of these distant countries residing on the same spot, it would be the height of folly for us to expect that the salubrity of the West Indies should be alike to all. That temperature of atmosphere which would prove congenial to a Norwegian, would freeze a native of Senegal; while, if we invert the order, we must conclude, that what would prove congenial to an African or Indian, would melt the Swede into languor, and render him unfit for those fatigues which are inseparable from a commercial life. Under these circumstances, even common exertions, in a climate which has unbraced the fibres and relaxed the strength, how natural soever they might have been deemed in the mother country, become a violence offered to nature, and may easily account for many of the deaths which happen, without obliging us to have recourse to those dreadful pestilences, in which "nature sickens, and each gale is death."

Intemperance, to which these regions hold out the most powerful temptations, may be considered as another cause, by which multitudes of Europeans meet their fate. "The ridiculous notion" (says Dr. Moseley)" that people are to die of putrid diseases in hot countries, unless they keep up their spirits, and embalm their bodies, by the assistance of an additional quantity of wine, strong liquors, and living well (as it is vulgarly called) has caused the death of thousands." Treatise on Tropical Diseases, p. 79. Why then shall the climate be charged with insalubrity, when inconsiderate indulgence exercises all its efforts to murder a constitution already debilitated by the sudden transitions which it has undergone? The fatal effects of this pernicious evil are unhappily but too well known in every country in Europe, even where the inhabitants are not transplanted from their native soil. It must be needless therefore to animadvert on these effects, where their cause is augmented; and that too in a country, which, in the ear of reason, demands the full exercise of all the abstemious virtués. Hence then both labour and intemperance conspire to bring vast multitudes of Europeans to their graves and their effects may be estimated by the proportion with which these causes are permitted to operate. We must not, however, suppose that these causes are alike destructive to all European constitutions. Their original distance in latitude, seems to afford the best barometer, admitting the influence of these causes to be the same.Thus, the Spaniard is less affected with the shock which the transition occasions, than the Frenchman; the Frenchman less than the Englishman; and the Englishman still less than the natives of the more northern countries. In the mean while, the negro feels his vigour increase as the solar beams are fiercely darted upon him, in nearly the same proportion as that of the European declines through the powerful operation of the same cause. As to the native Indians who once inhabited these sylvan recesses, the murderous hand of Spain has prevented us from making many remarks on existing facts. We neverthe

the same in all those records, which hold them forth to the notice of the world.

The temperature of the air, upon which the changes of the seasons so much depend in every portion of the world, may perhaps be considered among the permanent articles of nature in these islands. Subjected to regular variations, it observes a greater constancy than is to be found without the tropics, and contributes considerably towards those varied seasons which mark the year. The winters and summers of these islands can hardly be described in suitable language or by adequate ideas to the inhabitants of the more northern latitudes. The ideas which we have been accustomed to associate together, we have frequently much difficulty in separating, and in confining to those local occasions which called them into being.

Were we to follow nature in the divisions of the seasons in these islands, we should find but two; and these are the dry and the wet. But in imitation of European customs, where we cannot follow European manners, it is usual to divide these seasons into four; though they begin and end in different months, and will hardly justify the division which we make.

The spring usually commences with the month of May. The foliage of the trees then exhibits more lively colours than in the preceding months, and the gaieties of nature put on a more vivid hue. The periodical rains are then daily expected, by every kind of vegetation, by the earth which seems opening to receive its promised supply; and by the preparations which have been made by man. These rains generally set in about the middle of the month. Compared with those which fall in Autumn, they may be considered as gentle showers, which only sprinkle the surface of the soil. They descend chiefly in the middle of the day, approaching from the southern quarter; and break up with loud peals of thunder; which terminate the daily scene, disperse the clouds, and restore the skies to their wonted serenity. These rains continue for about a fortnight, with little or no variation; and when they cease, they leave the earth clothed, with the smile of gratitude, and renewed in verdure, to unfold her opening blossoms to the summer's sun.

During this season, the transitions, through varied degrees of heat, are very sudden and uncertain. The thermometer is rarely in one position through any measurable distance. It fluctuates, and falters, and seems to labour under hesitations,

less cannot but conclude, that a climate which is so congenial to men imported from Africa, must have been superlatively so to its native children.

For an account of the introduction and ravages of the yellow fever, see our History of Grenada, vol. ii. chap. xiii.