The Maroon
A sugar estate, and one of the finest in the “land of springs,” is that of “Mount Welcome.”
It is situated about ten miles from Montego Bay, in a broad valley, between two rounded ridges. These ridges, after running parallel for more than a mile, and gradually increasing in elevation, at length converge with an inward sweep—at their point of convergence, rising abruptly into a stupendous hill, that fairly merits the name which it bears upon the estate— the “mountain .”
Both the ridges are wooded almost down to their bases; the woods, which consist of shining pimento trees, ending on each side in groves and island copses, pleasantly interspersed over a park-like greensward.
The “great house” or “buff” of the estate stands under the foot of the mountain, just at the point of union between the two ridges—where a natural table or platform, elevated several feet above the level of the valley, had offered a tempting site to the builder.
In architectural style it is not very different from other houses of its kind, the well-known planter’s dwelling of the West Indies. One storey—the lower one, of course—is of strong stone mason-work; the second and only other being simply a wooden “frame” roofed with “shingles.”
The side and end walls of this second story cannot with propriety be termed walls: since most part of them are occupied by a continuous line of Venetian shutters—the “jalousies” of Jamaica.
These impart a singular cage-like appearance to the house, at the same time contributing to its coolness—a quality of primary importance in a tropical climate.
Outside in the front centre a flight of broad stone steps, resting upon arched mason-work, and bordered by strong iron balustrades, conducts to the level of the second storey—the real dwelling-house: since the ground-floor is entirely occupied by store-rooms and other “offices.”
The entrance door is from the landing of the aforesaid escalier , and conducts at once into the “hall”—a spacious apartment, of crucifix-shape, running clear across the building from side to side, and end to end. The current of air admitted by the open jalousies, passing constantly through this apartment, renders it at all times delightfully cool; while the lattice-work serves to mellow the glare of light, which, under the sky of the tropics, is almost as disagreeable as the heat. An uncarpeted floor, composed of the hardest sorts of native wood, and subjected to a diurnal polish, contributes to increase the coolness.
Mayne Reid
---
Volume One—Chapter One.
Volume One—Chapter Two.
Volume One—Chapter Three.
Volume One—Chapter Four.
Volume One—Chapter Five.
Volume One—Chapter Six.
Volume One—Chapter Seven.
Volume One—Chapter Eight.
Volume One—Chapter Nine.
Volume One—Chapter Ten.
Volume One—Chapter Eleven.
Volume One—Chapter Twelve.
Volume One—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume One—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume One—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume One—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume One—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume One—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume One—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty One.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Two.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Three.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Four.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Five.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Six.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Seven.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Eight.
Volume One—Chapter Twenty Nine.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty One.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty Two.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty Three.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty Four.
Volume One—Chapter Thirty Five.
Volume Two—Chapter One.
Volume Two—Chapter Two.
Volume Two—Chapter Three.
Volume Two—Chapter Four.
Volume Two—Chapter Five.
Volume Two—Chapter Six.
Volume Two—Chapter Seven.
Volume Two—Chapter Eight.
Volume Two—Chapter Nine.
Volume Two—Chapter Ten.
Volume Two—Chapter Eleven.
Volume Two—Chapter Twelve.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume Two—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty One.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Two.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Three.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Four.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Five.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Six.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Seven.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Eight.
Volume Two—Chapter Twenty Nine.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty One.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty Two.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty Three.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty Four.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty Five.
Volume Two—Chapter Thirty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter One.
Volume Three—Chapter Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Eight.
Volume Three—Chapter Nine.
Volume Three—Chapter Ten.
Volume Three—Chapter Eleven.
Volume Three—Chapter Twelve.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Fourteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Fifteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Sixteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Seventeen.
Volume Three—Chapter Eighteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Nineteen.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty One.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Eight.
Volume Three—Chapter Twenty Nine.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty One.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Eight.
Volume Three—Chapter Thirty Nine.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty One.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Two.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Three.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Four.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Five.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Six.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Seven.
Volume Three—Chapter Forty Eight.