The terror of the tents, or, Quarantine restrictions as imposed and enforced in Jamaica during the prevalence of small-pox, under so-called paternal government.

Date:: 1872

Credit: The terror of the tents, or, Quarantine restrictions as imposed and enforced in Jamaica during the prevalence of small-pox, under so-called paternal government. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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$elicit the truth, and that every day's delay is only increas- ing the diificulty, perpetuating abuses, and prolonging the sufferings and wrongs of the people, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, LEWIS Q. BOWERBANK. The Honble. E. Rushworth, D.C.L., Colonial Secretary. First Subject for Inquiry. Have wakes (or assemblages of people over the dead) been held over the bodies of persons dying of Small- pox, in the parish of St. Andrew's, during the last few months, say from October last? I think the fact of wakes having been held in the Half- way Tree district of St. Andrew's is undoubted, and that the usual accompaniment of excess on such occasions was not wanting, at least, in all. It is stated that wakes, or assemblages of persons took place on three different occasions recently in Robert Armstrong's house, namely, over a child of Geo. Hall's, over a young woman named Maria Lewis, and lastly, over the bodies of Anne and Robert Armstrong (sister and bro- ther^—both of whom died of Small-pox within a very short time of each other on the same evening, 29th May. In the same district other wakes, or assemblages of per- sons, over the dead are spoken of, as one over Clemen- tina, another sister of Armstrong's. Another over Jemmy Tucker, of Sandy GruUy ; and, again, over Nathaniel Bar- clay, at Waterloo Glebe land. One wake, at least over a man of the name of Robinson, was held near Temple Hall on or about the 1st ]\[ay, and NoTK.—In publishing this document I havo omitted, on the grounds of public expediency, the names of the several persons capable of giving evidence. b2$