APPENDIX.] THE MAROONS. 367 



in the presence of fugitive and felon negro slaves, 

 many of whom they had themselves apprehended.* 

 They concluded by demanding reparation for this in- 

 dignity j an addition to the lands they possessed, the 

 dismission of captain Craskell, and the appointment 

 of Mr. James, their former superintendant. 



The gentlemen had certainly no authority to agree 

 to any of these requisitions; they promised however 

 to state their grievances to the commander in chief, 

 and to recommend to the legislature to grant them an 

 addition of land. In the mean while, they assured 

 the Maroons they would request the governor to pro- 

 vide otherwise for captain Craskell their superintend- 

 ant, and to re-appoint in his room their favourite Mr. 

 James. With these assurances the Maroons seemed 

 pacified, and declared they had nothing further to 

 ask ; and the gentlemen having distributed a conside- 

 rable sum of money amongst them., returned to Mon- 

 tego bay. 



It soon appeared however, that the Maroons, in 

 desiring this conference, were actuated solely by mo- 

 tives of treachery. They were apprized that a fleet 

 of 150 ships was to sail for Great Britain on the 

 morning of the 26th; and they knew that very few 

 British trcops remained in the island, except the 83d 

 regiment, and that this very regiment was, at that 



* It certainly is to be wished, that some little attention had been paid, 

 by the magistrates, to the pride or the prejudices of the Maroons in this 

 yespc-ct. The law however, is wholly iilect on this head, and the covut 

 had a right to exercise its discretion-. 



