XAYMACA;  THE   ISLAND   OF   MANY   RIVERS     329

Early  in  March  we  drove  to  Kingston,  around
the  northeast  end  of  the  island,  under  the  shadow
of  the  John  Crow  mountains,  following  the  pic-
turesque undulations  of  the  coast.  Passing
through  the  level  lands  of  St.  Thomas,  we  saw
the  many  ruins  of  the  former  sugar  estates,  the
decayed  walls  of  mansions,  now  entirely  overgrown
with  creepers,  and  the  tumbled  heaps  of  the
once  busy  mills.  All  the  territory  is  at  present
turned  to  banana  culture,  and  is  leased  or  owned
by  the  Boston  Fruit  Company.  Leaving  the
coast  at  Hectors  River  we  drove  inland,  through
constantly  var^dng  scenery,  now  along  the  bank
of  a  rushing  river,  again  crossing  a  wide  savannah.
At  Bath,  hidden  away  among  the  hills,  a  night
was  spent  in  a  fairly  comfortable  lodging-house.
