JAMAICA, PAST & PRESENT.

T

HE power of England and the influential position she holds. among the nations of the world, greatly increases the value and importance of the various parts of her great empire. In days gone by, when the adventurous enterprise of Europeans opened up the virgin resources of the New World, the riches derived from the West Indies were far greater than those of the present day. Later on, when the wild Buccanneers roved the Carribean sea, committing endless depredations on the towns and cities of the American coast, they made Port Royal, then the capital of Jamaica, the headquarters of their lawless traffic. Gold poured into the Island in abundance, and those were Jamaica's palmiest days in wealth and power; but underneath this fair exterior lay the seeds of certain decay. Like a judgment from Heaven on Port Royal, came the earthquake of 1692, sinking the inhabitants of that wicked city with their lawlessness and their gold many fathoms below the surface of the sea. From that date Jamaica's agriculture and commerce rapidly declined, until the emancipation of the slaves in 1838 put a finishing stroke to her former greatness.

In the year 1860 came the rebellion, caused by the discontent of a few thousand blacks working on the sugar-estates. In some parts of the Island, where the negroes were less civilized, no man could say with certainty whether or not he would be alive on the morrow, so intense was the hostility of the black population. But the storm soon passed over, and the rising generation can little imagine that such things happened only twenty years ago, so much has Jamaica within that period changed for the better.

Undoubtedly Jamaica's progress has been very slow during the two centuries since she was conquered by the English, but still the march of civilization has not left her untouched. Only last year she had restored to her a share in her own government, which, in the excitement and panic caused by the Legislative Council

had fallen into the hands of English officials. All government offices are now open to natives, instead of being. as formerly, reserved for highly-paid Englishmen ; who, having received high salaries for a few years, would return to England well supplied with gold, wrung from the hardly earned wages of the poor. Many like abuses, too numerous to mention, have been reformed within the past two years, though many yet remain untouched. With political has come intellectual life, and education has spread rapidly throughout the Island, qualifying the people for the legislative privileges, lately granted them by the English Parliament.

The blacks, who form the great bulk of the population, are a quiet, law-abiding people. Gentle and docile, the more-educated among them show a peculiar aptitude for mathematics, and also have a good ear for music. The trait of character that is the great drawback to their individual and national success, is the inborn laziness and lack of enterprize that were perhaps caused by the crushing burden of slavery. Content with having bread for to-day, they do not provide for to-morrow. The superstition brought from the shores of Africa many years back still has a certain power over these people, but by the united efforts of various denominations of English missionaries, it is rapidly dying out.

In commerce, Jamaica is at a very low ebb indeed; for many years past her imports have largely exceeded her exports. As to the date when European Beet-sugar first began to be extensively 'used, we cannot say ; but then it was that a great blow was dealt at the production and exportation of sugar to foreign parts, which had hitherto formed the source of the island's wealth; and, owing to scarcity of labour and the lack of enterprize on the part of the growers, the cane-sugar has undergone a serious competition with the Bounty-fed Beet. Many of the sugar-estates once the pride of their country and of their owners have now been abandoned and allowed to run wild. As a possible remedy for commercial evils, it has been proposed to confederate Jamaica with the Dominion of Canada both politically and commercially, but the idea has not been received with favour by either country, and will not probably be brought about until far more is known of the benefits to be derived from Imperial Federation.

Every stranger who comes to warmer climes for the benefit of his health-and every year there is an increasing number of such from England and America-remarks upon the salubrity of the climate, the wild grandeur of the Blue Mountains, and the general beauty of the scenery. Though no wild animals rove through the forests, nor inhabit the caves scattered over the tracts of unpopulated land, yet no less there hangs a romantic charm around the highlands of Jamaica. Many a bright bird flits by as you cut your way through the thick underwood that perhaps never Lefore has given way to the tread of man.

Such has been the past and such is the present condition of Jamaica and of its inhabitants; can we with this experience of the past and knowledge of the present, forccast its probable future? Difficult and perhaps it would be impossible to do so, for what is so hard as to tell even the immediate future of a people, when human affairs are so unstable ? Yet may we not hope that the present is but the grey light of the morning that precedes the rising of the sun? for this people, once down-trodden and enslaved, woke to fresh life with the sense of newly-born liberty, on the emancipation morn. Dressed in their best, they crowded the Churches, to return hearty thanks to Him who had put it into the heart of the English nation, to ransom them with twenty millions of money, some fifty years ago. Ever since, their path has been one of continued progress, keeping peace as best they can with the advance of the age; and we trust that ere long Jamaica may become one of the most valued possessions of which England has reason to boast.

Dear Sirs,

* *

D.M.P.

OUR OXFORD LETTER.

Oxford,

June, 1885.

Before giving any account of Oldhallians now in resi

dence I should like to inform your readers of the principal athletic

news of the summer term.

The river is a great attraction, and the amount of energy and exertion expended thereon is something truly marvellous; the races are over, and Corpus Christi College has attained the premier place, which position Exeter held last year.

We have the advantage of a cricket ground commanding extensive views and in every way convenient for players and spectators, and so the 'Varsity matches attract large numbers.

The form shown this term is considerably below last year; Page of Wadham who is captain has fallen off in bowling, while in batting the eleven have been without the scrvicesof O'Brien till lately; however, the latter will probably play in the great match against Cambridge, and may the result be the same as the boat race!

Lawn tennis has a great number of votaries; it sometimes seems a pity for so much good talent to be expended on this game in preference to Cricket, but as Lawn tennis admits of the assistance of ladies it thereby scores greatly over cricket. The lady champions visited Oxford the other day.

E. P. Anderson, who has played for his college, has greatly improved in cricket, combining a strong defence with his usual big hitting. W. Bidlake has been seen at the nets occasionally, he has been chiefly practising bowling. G. E. W. Cranage, owing no doubt to the proximity of his examination, has been seen less frequently than usual at the 'Varsity cricket nets in the Park. I am sorry to say that W. C. Hall through an accident has been prevented from taking any active part in athletics. J. H. Webb, who joins Exeter College next term, has been principally engaged in playing lawn tennis.

I should like to remind your readers that the summer term is the one in which visits to the University should be made; they will be amply rewarded by the splendid architecture, parks and college gardens which at this season present an unique spectacle of beauty.

Some of us have examinations at the end of this term, and we shall soon have to lament or rejoice over the result. Apologising for trespassing so much on your space, and looking forward to a pleasant Old Boys' cricket match,

Believe me,

Yours very truly,

OXON.

→ HOW I MADE MY MARK ←

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"VOU had rather a rough time of it, youngster," said an old man, as we were landing at Cape Town, after a very perilous voyage" hadn't you?" I felt slightly piqued, for be it known I was not so much of a youngster as the interrogation of my older friend appeared to indicate. But its no use catching up at every little thing, so I wore a geuial, beaming countenance, and answered mildly, "Yes, fairly rough, I suppose." Ah, yes, he said, 'when you are as used to it as I am you'll think nothing of a slight squall or two." "Were you on board the Roslin Castle ?" I asked. This was the ship in which I had sailed from London to the Cape. No, not aboard her, but I hear as how you've not had it so particularly smooth as a land-lubber might wish-was you never out in a squall before ?" "Whether I was or not," I replied, "if you had been in the storm a week ago, as I was, I'm thinking you would say it was a hurricane rather than a squall. I had never been out to sea before, but not wishing to show my ignorance in nautical matters, I made this evasive answer. Well, well, I used to think as you think, but use, you know, use is the thing. Once get used to a thing and you never forget it." "I had rather not get used to a squall, if the experience of more than one is necessary. I know enough, practically, for my own infor.

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