Apnl us very extraordinary, that in a country where the expence of labour
' 1 did not exceed eleven pence per day, more perfons were not employed
in agriculture, ^and other rural improvements'; efpecially as the foil and
climate feemed to be well adapted for cultivation, and the fituation of
the country infured a ready market for every kind of produce; of which,
there could be no doubt, an abundance would ealily be procured, to reward
the labours of induftry. By the introduction of a greater proportion
of the common neceflaries of life, and by the’obtaining a few of its
comforts, it is reafonable to fuppofe that a general fpirit for exertion
would be diffufed amongft the lower orders of the people, who might
be taught, by encouragement,-to prefer a life of diligence and attivity
to that fupinenefs which at prefent difgraces the larger part of the community.
The fubmiflive obedience that is here paid to every regulation
or reftraint impofed by the priefts, gave us reafon to believe that it might
be within their power to infill that each individual Ihould employ him-
felf, or be employed by others, a certain number of hours each day,
either in his own garden, or in the general hufbandry of the country ;;
for which certain rewards, proportionate to the exertion, Ihould be
aflignedas an incentive to a life of induftry. This would foon produce
an inclination for employment, which would not only promote the general
happinefis of the people, but would be the means of fecuring to.
every one, in proportion to his diligence, the comforts, that would certainly
arife from this change.in the prefent ceconomy of their lives. In-
ftead of the univerfal apathy to work that feemed to pervade the whole,
of the labouring clafs, who were dragged to their employment, without
any felf-impulfe, like an ox to the yoke, their daily labour would be undertaken
with alacrity; and, in looking forward to the. advantages that
would refult from their exertion, they might foon be ftimulated to prefer
the habits of induftry to thole of fupinenefs and indolence;
On reaching the top of this range of hills, we could'plainly dilcern the
neat-looking village of:Cafa Blanco, which added'greatly to the appearance
of the country we had left behind. The road forward to St. Jago-
defcends on the- north'-eaft fide of thefe hills, but it had not fo many angles
gles or returns in it as that by which we had afcended on the other fide,
becaufe the intermediate,valley, between this range of hills and the mountains
before us which we had yet to pafs, was confiderably more elevated
from the level of the fea, than the plain on which Cafa Blanco is
fituated.
After breakfaft, we proceeded on our journey along a very narrow,
path, which, without a guide, might have been eafily miftaken, as there
were many fimilar to it, in various direftions, through a foreft of fmall
trees, that continued for about four miles. About four in the afternoon
we flopped at a mud hovel, at the diftance of nearly five miles from
the mountain of Praow. The country we had paffed through pofieffed
little to entertain, and lefs to-intereft, the traveller; its general character
was fimilar,to that over which we had paffed before, excepting that
it was more wooded,, without any objefts to vary the fcene ; and being
much fatigued with our new mode of conveyance, and the heat of the
weather, the advice of the dragoons to make this fpot our refting place
for the night, was willingly acceded to by all parties. Some Iamb and
poultry were foon procured for dinner, which was drelfed by our cook,.
and both proved to be very good. . Our table was fpread under the.
fhade of fome. vines clofe to the hovel, where we were attended by a few
peafants. brought- thither by curiofity, who conduced themfelves very
refpeflfully. We retired very early to our blankets, which, as before,
were fpread in the hovel on the bare ground.
By the recommendation of our guides, we were on horfeback at three
the next morning, that we might avoid the intenfe heat to which, they
ftated, we ihould be expofed in afcending the lofty fummits of Praow;
we accomplilhed this before fun-rife by the new road, which made thirty-
two paffes or returns on its fide, cut out in a manner fimilar to the other
parts of it over which we had already travelled. In afcending. at this
early hour, we found the air fo very cool, that great coats or warmer
clothing would have been very acceptable; and we all were of opinion,
that the confideration’ which had tempted our guides, to recommend
our travelling thus, early, was, more to infure a.refting place the
next.
A' 7p9r5il-;