CALIFORN

tual were these measures, that in 1738 a pacification was entered into with them, that happily terminated, for a time, this tedious and ruinous contest which, while it lasted, seemed to portend nothing less than the ruin of the whole Colony. In 1795 they again appeared in arms, and threw the whole Island into consternation. They established their head quarters at a place called the Cockpit, a sort of valley or dell, surrounded by steep precipices and broken rocks, and by mountains of prodigious height, in the caves of which they had secreted their women and children, and deposited their ammunition. From this retreat, almost inaccessible to any but themselves, they sent out small parties of their ablest and most enterprising young men, some of whom were employed in prowling about the country, in search of provision, and others in setting fire, by night, to such houses and plantations as were unprovided with a sufficient guard. At these places many white people unfortunately fell into their hands, all of whom were murdered in cold blood, without any distinction of sex or regard to age. The Earl of Belcarras and General Walpole proceeded against them with a body of troops, but the fatigues and hardships they underwent, added to the nature of the country which was the scene of their operations, were so discouraging, that the subjugation of these people appeared to be almost impracticable.-The Cockpit could be reached only by a path down a steep rock, 150 feet in almost perpendicular descent. This obstacle the Maroons surmounted without difficulty. Habituated to employ their naked feet, with singular effect in climbing up trees and preci

pices, they had acquired a dexterity in the practice, which to British troops was altogether astonishing, and wholly inimitable. But if the extraordinary cavity to which they had retired was inaccessible to the troops, it was also untenable for any length of time by the negroes, from a deficiency of water. It was altogether destitute of springs. The water which the rain had left in the hollows of the rocks was soon exhausted, and their only resource was in the wild pine, a wonderful contrivance, by which Divine Providence has rendered the sterile and rockey deserts of the torrid zone in some measure habitable. But this scanty supply was soon exhausted, and their sufferings for want of food and water were excessive. Fortunately for all parties, this unnatu"al and destructive revolt was brought to a termination much sooner than was anticipated. On the 14th of December, forty Chasseurs, from Havana, arrived at Montego Bay, with about one hundred Spanish dogs. Such extraordinary accounts were immediately spread, of the terrific appearance and savage nature of these animals, as made an impression on the minds of the negroes that was equally surprising and unexpected. They were immediately - terrified and humbled, and sued for peace, which was granted them on the following terms :—

1st. That they should, on their knees, ask the King's pardon.

2d. That they should fix their future residence in such part of the Island as the Legialature should point out, and that they should deliver up all the fugitive negroes that had joined them, for the due performance of which they were allowed ten days.-

So great was the terror of these wretched people, arising from the consciousness of their enormities, that only twenty one of the number surrendered by the time limited, nor was the rebellion entirely extinguished, by the surrender of the whole body, until the middle of March. It was therefore resolved to remove from the Island all those who surrendered after the first day of January, 1796. Accordingly, in the month of June following, three transports, the Dover, Mary, and Anne, having on board the Trelawny Maroons, amounting to 600, sailed from Bluefields, in Jamaica, for Halifax, where they arriv ed in about six weeks. They had been provided with all manner of necessaries, as well for their accommodation at sea, as for the change of climate, and were accompanied by William Dawes Quarrel, Esq. who had been appointed Commissary General, with instructions to purchase lands in Nova-Scotia, or elsewhere, for their future establishment and subsistence as a free people. The sum of £25,000 was allowed by the Legislature of Jamaica for this purpose. On their arrival at Halifax harbour the curiosity of his Royal Highness Prince Edward, who was at that time Commander-in-Chief, being greatly excited to see a body of people who had made such an opposition to a regular military force, and who had for months protracted a war against so great a superiority, desired the Commissary to attend him on board the transports. The Maroons were prepared for the occasion, and being dressed in their new cloathing, made a very handsome appearance. His Royal Highness, on going into the Dover, found a detachment of the 96th regiment drawn up on the

after part of the quarter deck, their arms rested and music playing. The Maroon men, in a uniform dress, in lines on each side, the whole length of the ship, and the women and children forward, dressed clean and neat, The Prince was no less surprised with the novelty of the scene, and the decent and orderly appearance presented by the Maroons, than pleased with the uniformity and propriety of their dress.→ Accustomed to view lines of men, with a very discriminating eye, the just proportion of their limbs, their height and their neatness, did not escape the notice of his Royal Highness. He remarked that they possessed in these an excellence not observable in the other classes of negroes he had seen; and said he thought them well adapted to military service. He spoke to some of the Captains, who, in addressing him, called him Massa Prince, and Massa King's son. His Royal Highness, though acquainted with the circumstances under which they were transported, and that Halifax was only a place of temporary residence, could not view such strength and vigour in a state of inactivity, without a wish to have them usefully employed. On the proposal being made to them to labour at the fortifications, then erecting on the Citadel hill, they unanimously declared they would work for the King freely and without pay. This testimony of loyalty given by the Maroons could not but be pleasing to Prince Edward, but he would by no means accept of their services without a compensation, and they agreed to receive the usual pay of such labour. It being the height of summer, ..temporary houses were made of boards, and others chired for them, near the town and Citadel, and the

Governor allotted the barns of his farm near the place for the same purpose. The whole body was accordingly landed, and marched to their quarters. Providing for them in this situation was extremely expensive, as every necessary article of life was increasing in value. In a short time this dreadful banditti were considered as a great acquisition to the Country. The little money they brought with them, and what they acquired by their labours, was spent in the town, whence also the necessary supplies for immediate use were furnished, so that intelligence of their re-embarkation would now have been most unwelcome. The lines of the Citadel were raised with rapidity, and the Maroon Bastion, erected by their efforts, remains as a monument of their active industry. His Excellency Sir John Wentworth, having received instructions from his Grace the Duke of Portland, to settle the Maroons in Nova-Scotia if it could be done without injury to the Colony, purchased lands for them in the township of Preston, and by the month of October they were all removed thither. At this time an alarm was felt at Halifax, on account of a French squadron hovering on the coast, under the command of Admiral Richery, and they were enrolled as a militia. Montague and Johnston, two of their chiefs, were appointed Colonels, and Jarrat and Bailey, Majors, while others were complimented with the Commissions of Captains and Lieutenants. His Excellency the Governor, conceiving that the best mode of advancing their civilization was to instruct them in the Christian Religion, and in reading, writing and arithmetic, appointed for these duties a Chaplain, a teach