'busses, 'buses, or 'omnibuses'
What were 'busses'?
In 19th century Kingston one of the most familiar means of transport around the city for individuals was the 'omnibus' or more familiarly the 'bus or 'buss, which then meant something similar to a hackney cab, not the familiar multi-passenger bus of modern streets.
In 19th century Kingston one of the most familiar means of transport around the city for individuals was the 'omnibus' or more familiarly the 'bus or 'buss, which then meant something similar to a hackney cab, not the familiar multi-passenger bus of modern streets.
The Kingston 'omnibuses' were related to, and in the tradition of, the London Hackney Carriages from the 17th century, and the Hansom Cabs of the 19th century.
how did the 'busses get started in Kingston?
James Gall, the business man and journalist, writing, shortly before his death, of the late 1850s when he came to Jamaica:
'The 'busses' were heavy, massive, weighty, four wheelers of peculiar construction, holding four persons and a driver, and drawn by a pair of horses. As at present the legal fare was 6d. but there were only three or four in the town and they took a long time to come and go, and when the rainy weather set in there were no busses; all the streets and lanes were enormous river courses, carrying down to the sea goats, pigs, dogs, carcasses of cats, limbs of trees, and other things.'
Daily Gleaner, March 29, 1899
James Gall, the business man and journalist, writing, shortly before his death, of the late 1850s when he came to Jamaica:
'The 'busses' were heavy, massive, weighty, four wheelers of peculiar construction, holding four persons and a driver, and drawn by a pair of horses. As at present the legal fare was 6d. but there were only three or four in the town and they took a long time to come and go, and when the rainy weather set in there were no busses; all the streets and lanes were enormous river courses, carrying down to the sea goats, pigs, dogs, carcasses of cats, limbs of trees, and other things.'
Daily Gleaner, March 29, 1899
In Anthony Trollope's controversial account of his visit to the West Indies in 1859 he wrote scathingly of Kingston's omnibuses, thereby confirming their existence, and also their small numbers.
If these recollections are correct, it suggests that this was the time when the 'busses started to become a part of Kingston life. However references to 'busses' from the 1860s seem to suggest that they were a more established part of the city's life. The report of the charge against the 'bussman' suggests that the common complaints against 'bussmen' down the years - refusal to accept passengers, abusive language - were of very long standing ! |
Daily Gleaner, October 13, 1865
(note: this report came two days after the troubles started in Morant Bay.) |
pp 16-7
So hailing a " 'bus," as the Kingston cabs are called, we started to seek the hotel
to which we had been recommended. This " 'bus" of ours was certainly a most curious
and rudimentary structure. It was, in fact, nothing more than a seat on wheels with
poles attached to each corner, over which a shabby piece of tarpaulin was stretched by way of protection from the sun. Our driver was an impish-looking boy, apparently about
fifteen, with a scarlet sash tied round his waist, and a roll of white cotton festooned
with blue calico twisted round his somewhat indefinable head-gear. He smoked
incessantly, all the time viciously tugging the ropes which served him for reins, and almost sawing open the mouth of his miserable horse, which, with bones projecting
through its skin, and a weary beseeching look in its lustreless eyes, was doing its best to
drag the over-laden vehicle through the unpaved streets.
Like almost all its fellows our 'bus had its name - " The Lukkey" - (Query, lucky ?) conspicuously painted on its back. Some of these names were very amusing. On our short
journey up East Street we passed " The Pride of the East," " The People's Favourite,"
with a rather handsome coloured girl seated in it; "It shines for all," " The Army and
Navy," "Something must be done," "Self-help," and "The Good Time Coming."
In due time, and after a prodigious amount of tumbling and jolting, we were landed at the door of a large and desolate-looking building, which the driverinformed us was the
" Hall" (for by this grand name are inns known in Jamaica) to which we were bound.
p 25
. . . we sallied forth immediately after breakfast to make acquaintance with the Kingston streets. By this time all the town was alive, and Harbour Street was crowded. Clerks and shopmen were hurrying to their respective offices and stores,
some on foot, some in 'buses, and not a few in buggies.
So hailing a " 'bus," as the Kingston cabs are called, we started to seek the hotel
to which we had been recommended. This " 'bus" of ours was certainly a most curious
and rudimentary structure. It was, in fact, nothing more than a seat on wheels with
poles attached to each corner, over which a shabby piece of tarpaulin was stretched by way of protection from the sun. Our driver was an impish-looking boy, apparently about
fifteen, with a scarlet sash tied round his waist, and a roll of white cotton festooned
with blue calico twisted round his somewhat indefinable head-gear. He smoked
incessantly, all the time viciously tugging the ropes which served him for reins, and almost sawing open the mouth of his miserable horse, which, with bones projecting
through its skin, and a weary beseeching look in its lustreless eyes, was doing its best to
drag the over-laden vehicle through the unpaved streets.
Like almost all its fellows our 'bus had its name - " The Lukkey" - (Query, lucky ?) conspicuously painted on its back. Some of these names were very amusing. On our short
journey up East Street we passed " The Pride of the East," " The People's Favourite,"
with a rather handsome coloured girl seated in it; "It shines for all," " The Army and
Navy," "Something must be done," "Self-help," and "The Good Time Coming."
In due time, and after a prodigious amount of tumbling and jolting, we were landed at the door of a large and desolate-looking building, which the driverinformed us was the
" Hall" (for by this grand name are inns known in Jamaica) to which we were bound.
p 25
. . . we sallied forth immediately after breakfast to make acquaintance with the Kingston streets. By this time all the town was alive, and Harbour Street was crowded. Clerks and shopmen were hurrying to their respective offices and stores,
some on foot, some in 'buses, and not a few in buggies.
- Rampini, Charles , D.L., LL.D., was born in Edinburgh in 1840, was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1865, and was in next year appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate of Jamaica. In 1867 he was made a District Court Judge, and was stationed at Port Antonio, moving later (1868) to Mandeville and (1875) to Kingston. He retired from the Colonial Service in 1878; but the same year was appointed Sheriff Substitute of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland, with residence at Ler and in 1882 was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Shetland. He later came Sheriff-Principal of Dumfries and Galloway. He published several works on Scottish history and customs, and his "Letters from Jamaica" (Edinburgh 1873) published anonymously, is well known. He died in Edinburgh in July.
- WHO'S WHO IN JAMAICA 1916; Obituaries 1907.
page 137
First, as to the carriages of the locality. They are square trays, supported upon four wheels, and drawn by deplorable-looking horses ; on this tray are two seats, both of the same pattern, each wide enough to hold two persons, and on the frontseat sits the driver; over these seats is supported a flat canopy, and on the back of the seat is written the name of the carriage, which, after the manner of boats at a watering place, are christened with all manner of names drawn from the pages of romance, or indicative of the speed, comforts, or advantages to be obtained by hiring the carriage in question. They are called omnibuses.
page 147
. . . before we got back to the town the squall overtook us. The water came down in streams, not drops. The omnibuses have curtains of oil-cloth attached to their canopies, which, under such circumstances, are let down on the windward side or all round if necessary, and which, though they keep out the rain, keep out also the light, with the exception of a few straggling rays that enter through the hole the reins are put through, and through which the driver peeps to guide his horse aright. One of these curtains became unbuttoned at one corner while it was raining so heavily, and I was obliged to put my hand and arm outside to button it again, but although I was not more than fifteen seconds in doing so, my coat sleeve was wet through to the skin in that short space of time. It ran down the sides of the road like little rivers, and the heat of the ground and the roofs of the houses caused quite a steam to rise as the rain fell upon them. Luckily these storms or squalls do not last long, and the only inconvenience that arose from it was my wet arm.
page 155
. . . I had ordered my carriage at nine, and at nine it arrived at the door of the hotel. Now these omnibus things have no locking apparatus, and require a very wide circle to turn in, and my driver, being, I suppose, in a great hurry to get off, turned round too sharply, and the consequence was that we were nearly upset, and some screws were broken, and getting the affair mended delayed us nearly an hour. At last, however, he arrived with the renovated carriage.
First, as to the carriages of the locality. They are square trays, supported upon four wheels, and drawn by deplorable-looking horses ; on this tray are two seats, both of the same pattern, each wide enough to hold two persons, and on the frontseat sits the driver; over these seats is supported a flat canopy, and on the back of the seat is written the name of the carriage, which, after the manner of boats at a watering place, are christened with all manner of names drawn from the pages of romance, or indicative of the speed, comforts, or advantages to be obtained by hiring the carriage in question. They are called omnibuses.
page 147
. . . before we got back to the town the squall overtook us. The water came down in streams, not drops. The omnibuses have curtains of oil-cloth attached to their canopies, which, under such circumstances, are let down on the windward side or all round if necessary, and which, though they keep out the rain, keep out also the light, with the exception of a few straggling rays that enter through the hole the reins are put through, and through which the driver peeps to guide his horse aright. One of these curtains became unbuttoned at one corner while it was raining so heavily, and I was obliged to put my hand and arm outside to button it again, but although I was not more than fifteen seconds in doing so, my coat sleeve was wet through to the skin in that short space of time. It ran down the sides of the road like little rivers, and the heat of the ground and the roofs of the houses caused quite a steam to rise as the rain fell upon them. Luckily these storms or squalls do not last long, and the only inconvenience that arose from it was my wet arm.
page 155
. . . I had ordered my carriage at nine, and at nine it arrived at the door of the hotel. Now these omnibus things have no locking apparatus, and require a very wide circle to turn in, and my driver, being, I suppose, in a great hurry to get off, turned round too sharply, and the consequence was that we were nearly upset, and some screws were broken, and getting the affair mended delayed us nearly an hour. At last, however, he arrived with the renovated carriage.
One of the indicators of the number of 'busses, and their importance, is the presence of advertisements in the Daily Gleaner relating to 'busses and their accessories.