Jamaica

(jah-ma'kah,) [Ind. Xaymaca, the principal of the English W. India islands, and one of the Greater Antilles group, in the Caribbean Sea, 90 m. S. of Cuba, and 120 W. of Hayti, from which island it is separated by the Windward Channel; it lies bet. N. Lat. 17° 44′18° 30', and W. Lon. 76° 12′-78° 25′. Of nearly oval form, it is 140 m. in length, by a mean breadth of 50. Area, 6,400 sq. m. J. is traversed from E. to W. by a heavily timbered ridge, called the Blue Mountains, which reach an altitude of over 7,000ft. above sea level. Its surface is well-watered and highly picturesque, with a soil of superabundant fertility, requiring only an adequate supply of colored labor to develop its fullest capacities. The agricultural yield has greatly diminished since the pa ing of the Negro Emancipation Act in 1833, owing to the fact of a paucity of free negro labor. Excellent harbors are found on every side; Kingston is the chief port and largest town, but Spanish Town is the cap. Politically, J. is divided into the 3 cos. of Middle sex, Surrey, and Cornwall. J. was discovered in May, 1494, by Columbus, who named it St. Jago. It was held by the Spaniards from 1509 till 1655, when it surrendered to an English expedition sent out by Cromwell. In 1670, Spain formally ceded it to Great Britain. In 1865 an attempt at revolt, got up by a negro Methodist preacher named Gordon, was summarily suppre ed by the firm con Jamaica, duct of Gov. (ja-ma'kah,) Eyre. Pop. in 441,255. New York, a town of Queen's co., on Long Island,12 m. E. of Brooklyn. Pop. 3,791. Jamb, (jām.) [From Fr.jambe, a leg. (Arch.) The post or side-piece of a door, or that which connects the two sides of a wall; also, the corresponding parts of a fireplace. James, (St.,) son of Zebedee, and brother of St. John, was one of the three Apostles most affected by Jesus Christ. He suffered martyrdom by command of Herod Agrippa, abt. 44 A. D. There was another Apostle named James, called " the son of Alpheus " (Matt. x. 3); and there are difficult questions connected with him, whether he was the same with " James the Lord's brother," whether it was he that appears in the later chapters of the Acts to have been prominent in the church of Jerusalem, whether he wrote the epistle which bears the name of James, and whether the so called "brethren " of Jesus were his brethren really, or his cousins-the word " brother " being used very commonly in Scripture in a large signification. [s. 498]