230 CUBA AND PORTO RICO 



merciful and humane methods have prevented the repeti- 

 tion in Jamaica of Haitian degradation. 



In the mountains of the interior, the cockpit country on 

 the west, ami Portland Parish on the east, there dwell still 

 other negroes, who have special privileges and are partially 

 free from English rule. These are the maroons (ci- 

 marrones of the Spaniards), descendants of Africans who 

 would not endure the fetters of slavery, and soon after 

 landing broke away from bondage to these inaccessible re- 

 treats. They have certain vested rights which the other 

 negroes do not possess, and during the past centuries they 

 were feared by both w r hites and blacks; but England has 

 at last reduced them to a condition where, while retaining 

 their liberties, they no longer plunder the planter. They 

 maintain the African tribal organization and have their 

 chiefs and head men, but, otherwise than that they do not 

 serve the white man, no difference can be seen between 

 them and the other negroes of the island. An American 

 who had heard much of these wild maroons resolved upon 

 visiting their village for the purpose of feasting his eyes on 

 a real African prince. After a tedious journey he reached 

 the collection of huts and inquired for the head man. A 

 venerable but ordinary-looking darky finally appeared, 

 dressed in the same manner and speaking the same lan- 

 guage as the other blacks of the island. Our Boston friend, 

 after enjoying the presence of royalty to satiety, started to 

 leave the village, when he was greeted with the customary 

 parting : " Buckra, I t'ank you for a shilling, sah." 



The character of the black man of Jamaica has been 

 beautifully described by Trollope in his book on " The West 

 Indies and the Spanish Main," and the reader who wishes 

 to know more concerning his simple nature should read 

 his description. The following story told by him excel- 

 lently illustrates their childlike nature. 



Some of their efforts after dignity of costume are ineffably lu- 

 dicrous. One Sunday evening, far away in the country, as I was 

 riding with a gentleman, the proprietor of the estate around us, I 



