THE MAROONS OF JAMAICA AND NCVA SCOTIA. 263 



in Jamaicii, masiters and slaves were uneducated, slotliful and poor. 

 The exports consisted only of some cocoa, hogs, lard and hides. 



When the officers of the great Protector conquered the island, in 

 May 1655, most of the old white settlers fled, or voluntarily removed 

 to other Spanish possessions. In many cases slaves were left on the 

 abandoned plantations. They still sympathized with their old masters 

 and communicated with them. They took to the woods and defiles 

 called "cockpits," with which parts of the island abound. They harassed 

 the English, decoyed away their slaves, destroyed outlying planta- 

 tions, and mui'dered those who ventured abioad without escort. This^ 

 mass of savages increased in numbei-s, both by natural causes, and by 

 the addition of run-away slaves, and were known as Maroons. They 

 lived on the game, fruits, and edible roots with which the country 

 abounded, and on the flesh of the wild hog which roamed in the foi-est 

 and fed on the mast of trees and roots. . No country could probably 

 be found more fitted to foster the wild and lawless life which this 

 race passed for nearly two hundred years in Jamaica, with its varied 

 natural resources. 



The name Maroon is generally d-erived from the word meaning 

 " hog hunters," but some take it from the Spanish " Simaron," mean- 

 ing ape. Either derivation is significant of this j)eople and their 

 habits. In the year 1730, trouble with the Maroons culminated in a 

 I'evolt, led by Cudjoe, a bold Coromantee negro. His brothers 

 Accompong and Johnny were subordinate leaders, Cuffee and Quaco 

 were his captains. Insurgent slaves, and other ill-disposed negroes 

 joined them. The island was harassed for many months by the bold 

 and skilful attacks of these daring men. It was impossible to take 

 them, as they hid in the glens and " cockpits " enclosed by rocks and 

 mountains. Loyal " Blackshot " negroes and Mosquito Indians from 

 the American coast were hired to aid the soldiery and militia. Peace 

 was at last secured by Colonel Gnthrie and Captain Sadlier in Marcli, 

 1738. It was arranged that Cudjoe and his people should settle in 

 the parish called Trelawney, which is in the north-west part of 

 Jamaica, the place where the Maroons lived mainly for the next 

 forty years. 



