CHAP, in.] WEST INDIES. 197 



1760, was considered, at the time, in a very favour- 

 able point of view; and the safety of the country was 

 attributed in some degree to their services on that oc- 

 casion; but the writer of this was convinced by his 

 own observations on the spot, that no opinion could 

 be more ill founded : he was persuaded that the Ma- 

 roons were suspicious allies, and that, whenever they 

 should come to feel their own strength, they would 

 prove very formidable enemies. Recent events have 

 unhappily confirmed the judgment he then formed 

 of them. Soon after the publication of this work, these 

 people began a most unprovoked war against the 

 white inhabitants, \\ hich has ended in their total de- 

 /eat, and the final expulsion of most of them from the 

 island. The circumstances attending this revolt re- 

 quiring particular discussion, I have accordingly given 

 it full consideration, in a distinct narrative of its origin, 

 progress and termination; to that therefore the reader 

 is referred. 



The year 1744 was distinguished by another de- 

 structive conflict of the elements; and in 1780, after 

 a long respite, began that dreadful succession of hur- 

 ricanes, which, with the exception of 1782 and 1783, 

 desolated this, and some of the neighbouring islands, 

 for seven years together.* 



* 1780 hurricane 3d October. 



1781 ist August. 



1784 3oth July. 



1785 ...27th August. 



1786 *oth October. 



