The road, heavy and sandy, was parallel to the sea. The shades of evening were beginning to fall, and our horses showing symptoms of fatigue, we were apprehensive of not reaching our destination before the night had set in. Whilst we were consulting upon what was the best course to pursue, we suddenly came upon a gentleman and his servant, at the entrance of a wood, of whom inquiries were made as to the distance yet remaining to be accomplished. Seeing we were travellers, and newly arrived in the island, he recommended us to give up all idea of proceeding further, and to accept beds at his house in the immediate neighbourhood. We received his polite invitation with many thanks; but, being anxious to get on as fast as possible, were obliged to decline it. We had not gone much further, however, before the horses were so completely knocked up, that on his reiterating his invitation, we changed our minds, and followed him towards his residence in the hills, on the Cardiff-hall estate.

In the midst of immense groves of pimento, a newly built and wellappointed mansion gladdened our sight, and our kind and hospitable acquaintance, who had cantered on before, was waiting to receive us. There was an air of comfort and neatness about the house, which was the more striking, as it was quite unlike what we had hitherto scen. The rooms were well lighted; the floors, of inlaid wood, were highly polished, and everything bespoke the good taste of the proprietor. After we had been shown to our rooms, and before the supper was served, a large brass pan was brought into the house, filled with fragrant pimento leaves, and, on being lighted, the smoke drove out the musquitoes, that are always numerous in the pimento forests.

Before taking leave of our host in the morning, we went to visit the mansion of the proprietor of the estate (an absentee) which is usually called "The Great House." The entrance hall and rooms were large and well-proportioned, and in the former were several very fine, solid, Corinthian, mahogany pillows. All the rafters and boards too were of the same material.

We reached Falmouth-a pretty place, situated on the south side of the Martha Brae harbour-at an early hour. The town was very gay and animated, in consequence of the presence of the governor, Sir Lionel Smith, who was making a tour of the island, for the purpose of inspecting the militia of the different parishes. The inns were full of militiamen, and black, brown, and white beauties of the environs, most gaily attired, who came in to see the review. It would be very easy to raise a strong force in the island, now that the negroes are emancipated, and even when only free persons were admitted into the militia, they rendered great services on many occasions. Being well acquainted with the country, they were particularly useful in bush fighting. The detachment that garrisons Falmouth is furnished by a Queen's regiment stationed at Maroon Town. The latter is one of the healthiest quarters in the colonies, and has been much improved, and increased of late years.

When Jamaica was first conquered by the British, during the administration of Oliver Cromwell, multitudes of African slaves fled to the mountains, where under the name of Maroons, for the greater part of a century, they formed an independent and often hostile community. Their numbers were constantly increased by fugitive negroes, and they

carried on a long and harassing warfare with the whites. ven at this time great numbers of them are to be met with in and about Maroon Town, their former residence, as the name implies. In 1738 they came to terms with the islanders, being guaranteed a certain independence. The stipnlations, however, were not strictly observed. About 56 years afterwards they recommenced their old practices, and from the difficult and often inaccessible positions they occupied, were enabled to resist all the efforts made to overpower them. This led to the introduction of blood-hounds from Cuba; by these they were ultimately hunted down, and their independence was at last entirely destroyed. Some hundreds were sent to Nova Scotia, and the others have assisted in quelling various rebellions that have at times broken out amongst the slave population. They are fond of hunting the wild hog, which they dry and prepare in a manner peculiar to themselves, and it is highly esteemed.

The Militia band was the subject of considerable mirth, for it was not better than those heard in former days, in the precincts of Bartholomew fair. A great many fine vessels annually visit Falmouth, for the purpose of shipping sugar, as some of the best estates in the island are situated in the neighbourhood. The harbour, notwithstanding the traffic, is, like St. Anne's Bay, little better than an open roadstead, nor is there any appearance of an inclination to improve it. The road from thence to Montego Bay, along the sea shore, is pretty good, and we arrived there late in the evening, after a long dusty drive, very much fatigued.

We passed some fine pastures, where guinea grass was growing luxuriantly. The grazing farms depend in a great measure, upon this herbage for feeding and fattening the cattle. It was accidently introduced into the island, from the coast of Africa, with some birds sent to the Chief Justice of Jamaica, for whose food a large supply of the seed had been forwarded. On cleaning the cages a certain portion fell amongst the hedges, and there took root and grew. The attention of the planters was directed to it, from the avidity with which all animals devoured it, and it soon superseded all other grasses for feeding the cattle of the sugar estates. It is the more valuable because it grows in rocky moist pastures, producing crops where the land would otherwise be totally unproductive.

The dogs I have alluded to, which were brought from Cuba to be used in the warfare with the Maroons, were kept there to pursne and catch runaway slaves. They were said or supposed to be blood-hounds, without the slightest pretension to so honourable a designation. They were properly a species of illegitimate bandog, and were of all sorts and sizes without any peculiar characteristics. Like the cur they bit sharply, gave tongue in the same manner, and furnished other evidence of being a degenerated production. Their chief value arose from the careful mode in which they were trained. Those who were particular or fanciful in their choice of blood-curs never permitted them to be fed by a black; but if punishment was to be inflicted necessarily or unnecessarily, it was administered by a black whipper. They were frequently half starved in their process of education. When in the midst of devouring their mess, a black was ordered to take it away forcibly, and to carry it to a particular place. This he did in company with some white men. After a certain distance the white men halted, and the slave proceeded alone. The half famished

cur was then laid on the track. On coming up to the white men he was carressed and halloed forward on the line of scent; and having hunted up to the black carrying his half devoured food, the latter was compelled to defend himself from the dog, until a sign was given by the trainiug overseer to desist.

By these and other means these blood-mongrels were trained to hunt a negro steadily through any number of white men. They bit and barked at their black game, but rarely ran in and fixed, for they could have been instantly killed, and the pursuers thrown off the line. Nevertheless many of these animals of such honourable value were destroyed in this West Indian sport.

When it was ascertained that a slave had escaped from a plantation, or the haunt of a runaway had been discovered, the overseer called in white assistance, and loosed a couple of dogs on the trail: they were not allowed to range far, in order to allow the hunters to keep up. Like all curs, they did not give tongue until close on their game; differing from the noble foxhound, that opening on the chace, during the splendid burst races head up and stern down over Tilton great field, or Wymondham pasture, and runs into his fox mute and determined.

When the slave was overtaken he either took refuge in a tree, or maimed the dogs with whatever weapon he might have, and continued his flight; but he was always overmatched. The man-hunters fired at him, in the first instance, with small shot; and if he persisted in refusing to surrender, a bullet terminated the exciting chase.

These curs are still used by the free and enlightened slaveholders of America for the self-same purpose. In the Macon Telegraph, November 27, 1838, is the account of a runaway capture effected by a Mr. Adams, and his excellent dogs :-" "A runaway's den was discovered on Sunday, near the Washington Spring, in a little patch of wood, where it had been for several months, so artfully concealed under ground, that it was detected only by accident, though in sight of two or three houses, and near the road and fields where there has been constant daily passing. The entrance was concealed by a pile of pine straw, representing a hog bed; which being removed, discovered a trap door and steps leading to a room about six feet square, comfortably ceiled with plank, containing a small fire-place, the flue of which was ingeniously conducted above ground, and concealed by the straw. The inmates took the alarm and made their escape; but Mr. Adams and his excellent dogs being put upon the trail, soon run down and secured one of them, which proved to be a negro fellow who had been out about a year. He stated that the other occupant was a woman, who had been a runaway a still longer time. In the den was found a quantity of meal, bacon, corn, potatoes, &c., and various cooking utensils and wearing apparel!"

The St. Francisville Chronicle of February 1, 1839, gives the following account of a "Negro hunt" in that parish. "Two or three days since a gentleman of this parish, in hunting runaway negroes, came upon a camp of them in the swamp on Cat Island. He succeeded in arresting two of them, but the third made flight; and upon being shot in the shoulder, fled to a sluice, where the dogs succeeded in drowning him before assistance could arrive."

The Reverend Horace Moulton also gives the following statement respecting runaways:-"Numbers of poor slaves runaway from their

masters; some of whom doubtless perish in the swamps and other secret places, rather than return back again to their masters; others stay away until they are almost famished, and then return home rather than die, while others who abscond are caught by the negro hunters in various ways. Sometimes the master will hire some of his most trusty negroes, who come on to their plantations, for many come there at night to beg food of their friends. Some obtain their living in hunting after lost slaves. There was a man living in Savannah when I was there, who kept a large number of dogs for no other purpose than to hunt runaway negroes. When he went out on a hunting excursion, to be gone several days, he took several persons with him, armed generally with rifles, and followed by the dogs. The dogs were as true to the track of a negro, if one had passed recently, as a hound is to that of a fox when he has found it. When the dogs draw near to their game, the slave must turn and fight them, or climb a tree. If the latter, the dogs will stay and bark, until the pursuers come. The blacks frequently deceive the dogs by crossing and recrossing the creeks. Should the hunters who have no dogs start a slave from his hiding-place, and the slave not stop at the hunter's call, he will shoot at him as soon as he would a deer. Some masters advertise so much for a runaway slave, dead or alive. It undoubtedly gives such more satisfaction to know that their property is dead, than to know that it is alive without being able to get it. Some slaves run away, who never mean to be taken alive. I will mention one. He ran off, and was pursued by the dogs; but having a weapon with him, he succeeded in killing two or three of the dogs, but was afterwards shot. He had declared that he would never be taken alive. The people rejoiced at the death of the slave, but lamented the death of the dogs, they were such ravenous hunters. Poor fellow he fought for life and liberty like a hero; but the bullets brought him down. A negro can hardly walk unmolested in the south. Every coloured stranger that walks the streets is suspected of being a runaway slave; hence he must be interrogated by every negro hater whom he meets, and should he not have a pass, he must be arrested and hurried off to jail. Some masters boast that their slaves would not be free if they could. How little they know of their slaves! They are all sighing and groaning for freedom. May God hasten the time!"

Incredible as these stories of the suffering of slaves in free America may appear to the inhabitants of our own happy island, they are too well authenticated to admit of any doubt, and I have only selected them out of innumerable accounts of the cruelties exercised upon the unfortunate negroes in the Southern States. The Reverend Horace Moulton, from whose testimony they are derived, is an esteemed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Marlborough, Mass. He spent five years in Georgia; and what he relates took place between the years 1817 and 1824.

(To be continued.)

The advantages that we anticipate from the progress of civilization, or, in modern term, the "march of intellect," are, or at least ought to be, multifarious. We have a right to expect such progress to throw new lights on the ordinary acts and opinions of mankind, and in so doing, to place such objects in a more proper view before us. Supposing this to be the result, if we do not avail ourselves of our newly-acquired distinetive apprehension of what is right or wrong, it would go far to prove that the mind of man is not elevated enough in its attributes to act on proper principle, though the mode of doing so be laid straight before us.

But worse than this, if it should be found that, rapid as are or have been our steps towards civilization and refinement, yet vice and crime follow with still more rapid strides on our heels, it would seem as if ultra-refinement, the new companion of our journey through life, only accompanied us to beckon on with quickened pace the hideous form of vice, that hitherto only dogged our steps in the far rear.

We will not, however, permit ourselves to think that such is the case. Still candour and precaution must induce us to admit that although refinement, like a man of highly polished manners and cultivated mind, must be a delightful companion, we should do well to watch his general acts and the bias of his mind before we admit him as our bosom friend, or abandon ourselves to his guidance.

There is no mind, except it be one appertaining to the very base, but that shrinks from undisguised depravity, low and vulgar ribaldry, or still more from open ordinary crime. It might, therefore, be inferred, that if the base alone tolerated such atrocities, they could in no way be countenanced by the enlightened. This is not, however, a decided sequitur ; for base is only (in its literal sense) the opposite to good, but by no means always the antithesis to refined. The antithesis as relates to refinement, I take to be rude, untaught; or, to go still further, boorishness in mind and manner. Probably Sir Roger de Coverley would have been held as all but uncouth by the side of George the Fourth, though a refined gentleman among his compeers; but we have no reason tó suppose he would have tolerated a vice that would have met reprehension from that monarch. In fact, the reverse of refinement, though it appears in homely and by no means captivating garb, may underneath quite encompass all the true and estimable qualities in man.

That less uncouth habits, and education, do not so much as we might expect or hope to eradicate the evil propensities of mankind, the lamentable and in truth disgusting accounts of crime constantly given