They were soon ashore and walking up the narrow and dirty street leading from the quay. On either side were big warehouses with here and there a low drinking resort, around which hung sailors of many nationalities and crowds of negroes.
“This is not very inviting,” was Sam’s comment. “It smells almost as bad as at La Guayra.”
“It is not so bad further away from the docks.”
They soon reached the hotel, a comfortable resort with large shade trees in the courtyard and a fountain, and here Professor Strong secured accommodations for all.
“Kingston contains about fifty thousand inhabitants,” said the professor, after they had secured a large carriage in which to drive around. “It was established about two hundred years ago, after the neighboring town of Port Royal had been destroyed by earthquake. Now Port Royal has been rebuilt. It lies on the other side of the harbor, but Kingston is the main city, and nearly all the foreign commerce passes through this port.”
“Have they any railroads?”
“When I was here last they had a railroad about ten miles long, running from here to Spanish Town, in the interior. The lay of the land is not favorable to railroads.”
“I knew some sick folks who came to Jamaica for their health,” said Hockley. “A man and his son. Both had consumption.”
“Yes, invalids come here in plenty, and there are several hotels up in the hills built especially for their benefit.”
They were soon at the principal square of the city, called the Parade. Here were numerous shops, as well as a barracks for the soldiers, a church, theater, and other public buildings. The Parade was well kept, quite in contrast to the streets through which they had been passing.