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26 
seized upon the transaction as. a reasonable 
‘ground for manifesting the temper they were 
m, and proceeded accordingly to dismiss 
eaptain Craskell. “Phe intelligence given to 
the lieutenant-govervor respecting the in- 
tended junction of the Maroons of Accom- 
pong ‘Town, and of the preparatory measures 
taken by those of Trelawney Town, was 
more the result of alarm than of inquiry : 
no such measures were taken, nor did the 
Accompongs ever testify any intention of 
joining the others, as will be seen in the 
sequel. Fhe ‘Trelawney Maroons had long 
manifested their discontent against the Ac- 
eonipongs, for not yielding to then the ori- 
ak treaty made with Cudjoe, which they 
elaimed the right of keeping. About this 
time it was agai sent for, to be shown if 
necessary, and was given by the Accom- 
pongs, but never returned to them. 
«© On the day that the magistrates of St. 
James's Wrote to the lieutenant-governor, 
they also senta message to the Maroons, pro- 
posing that four of their justices should meet 
four chosen Maroons on the next day to settle 
all differences. ‘To this an insolent answer 
was returned in the following words: ‘The 
Maroons wishes nothing else from the coun- 
try but battle; and they desires not to see 
Mr. Craskell up here at all. So they are 
waiting every moment for the above on Mon- 
day.” This was signed colonel Montague, 
and all the rest; and in a postscript was 
added, * Mr. David Schaw will see you on 
Sunday morning for an answer. They will 
wait till Monday nine o'clock; and if they 
dot come up they will come down them- 
selyes.’. This curious epistle, it was after- 
wards well known, was dictated by a few 
drunken Maroons, to a poor ignorant white 
“man, ‘~vithout the concurrence of old Mon- 
tague, who was then sick and absent; nor 
was it known to one-tenth part of the peo- 
pie : and I must not omit to say, that the 
principal men among the Maroous have ever 
denied that they voluntarily entered into a 
rebellion against the authority of the go- 
‘vernment, declaring they were forced into 
hostilities on a principle of self-preseryation, 
being persuaded, from the subsequent con- 
duct of the white people, that their destruc- 
tion was determined. Be this as it may, a 
turbulent spirit had been evinced among 
them, to subdue which firmness was neces- 
sary. While therefore some headstrong Ma- 
roons were using a soldier of captain Craskell’s 
Wl, and compelling him to write to his 
commander, that it was too-late to do any 
thing good, and that they wanted nothing, 
having got plenty of powder and ball, the 
Trelawney militia moved up to Green-Vale, 
a penn at the foot of the mountains leading 
to the Maroon Town, about three miles 
distant, and of most difficult access. Mr. 
Thorp, the custos of the parish, and several 
ether gentlemen, accompanied the corps. 
As they approached the hill, they observed 
a single man winding along the acclivities 
HISTORY, POLITICS, AND STATISTICS. 
with astonishing agility, and brandishing @ 
lance to show that he had no other arms. 
‘This was a Maroon captain of the name of 
Smith, a voung fellow of exquisite symme- 
try, whose limbs united all that was requisite 
both for strength and activity: the superior- 
ity of his gait, as he descended the side. of 
the mountain, and the wild grace with which 
he flourished the lance Gneatia head, excited 
the highest admiration. He approached the 
custos, and delivered a letter to him, in 
which he was requested to proceed to the 
town, accompanied by Mr. Gallimore, Mr. 
Knowles, Mr. Galloway, and Mr. Stewart. 
The invitation was accepted, and these five 
gentlemen went forward to Trelawney Town, 
where they forind general-Reid, Mr. Mowat, 
and major James, their late superintendant. 
*« The Maroons had prepared for this 
meeting, and received their visitors under 
arms, not however in the manner of a re- 
gular’army, but with an. apparent ferocity, 
wild manceuvres, and evolutions little suited 
to a deliberate and free discussion; nor in- 
deed could the scene be viewed without a 
degree of alarm. Some of the Maroons 
had been qualifying themselves, as they often 
did on great occasions, with a sufficiency of 
ram, with which they had been abundantly 
supplied by intimidated persons in the neigh- 
bourhood willing to secure their fayour. 
«* After much clamour, it was settled that 
one of their captains, named John- Jarrett, 
by no means the least violent, should mo- 
derate his voice, and deliver himself in such 
a manner as to enable one of the gentlemen 
to write down what the Maroons wished to 
say. This being reduced into some form, 
the grievances they complained of appeared’ 
to be as follows : 
«© 1, An infringement of their treaty by 
the magistrates of Montego Bay, in causing 
the punishment of whipping to be inflicted 
on some of their people by the hand of a 
slave. 
.<¢ 2. That the land originally granted them 
for their subsistence was worn out, and 
being not sufficient for their support, they 
required an additional quantity, saying that 
the penns of several settlers in the neigh- 
bourhoed would suit them. 
«© 3. ‘That captain Craskell, their super- 
intendant, was, on account ef his timidity, 
unqualified for his office; and as they had 
experienced the disposition and abilities of 
major James, they were desirous of his 
re-appointment, and averse to receiving any 
other. 
“« Other matters were also alleged by them 
as grievances, but which they were induced 
to relinquish, on condition that the gentle- 
men present would consider themselves as 
pledged to obtain redress for what was spe-- 
cified in this statement from the house of 
assembly, who were to meet early in the 
ensuing month: at the same time they 
showed a firmness of determination to peg 
sue their object till these claimrs were satisfied. 
aa 
