342 JAMAICA. 



Haves into captlvit)'. By this daftardly method of conduifling the 

 war, they did infinite niilchief to the Whites, without much ex- 

 poling their own perlbns to danger ; for they always cautioufly 

 avoided fighting, except with a number fo difproportionately infe- 

 rior to them, as to afford them a pretty lure expedation of vitlory. 

 They knew every fecret avenue of the country ; fo that they could 

 either conceal themfelves from purfuit, or form ambufcades, or 

 fliifc their ravages from place to place, according as circumftances 

 required. Such were the many difadvantages under which the 

 Englifli had to deal with thefe defultory foes ; who were not redu- 

 cible by any regular plan of attack ; who poflefled no plunder to 

 allure or reward the afliiilants j nor had any thing to lolt, except 

 life and liberty. 



Previous to the fucceffes above-mentioned, the diftrefs into which 

 the planters were thrown may be colle(fted from the fenfe which 

 tlie legiflature expreiled in fome of their afts. In the year 1733, 

 they fet forth, that thefe Blacks had within a few years greatly 

 increafed, notwithftanding all the meafures that had then been 

 concerted, and made ufe of, for their fuppreflion ; in particular, 

 that they had grown very formidable in the North-Eaft, North - 

 Weft, and South- Weft diftrids of the ifland, to the great terror 

 of his majefty's fubjefts in thofe parts, who had greatly fuffered by 

 the frequent robberies, murders, and depredations, committed 

 by them ; that, in the pariflies of Clarendon, St. Anne, St. Eli- 

 zabeth, Weftmoreland, Hanover, and St. James, they were con- 

 fiderably multiplied, and had large fettlements among the moun- 

 tains, and leaft acceflible parts ; whence they plundered all around 

 them, and caufed feveral plantations to be thrown up and aban- 

 doned, and prevented many valuable trafts of land from being cul- 

 tivated, to the great prejudice and diminution of his majefty's re- 

 venue, as well as of the trade, navigation, and confumption, of 

 BritiOi manufa<flures; and to the manifeft weakening and pre- 

 venting further increale of ftrength and inhabitants in the ifland. 

 We may learn from hence what extenfive mifchief may be per- 

 petrated by the moft defpicable and cowardly enemy. The af- 

 jembly, perceiving that the employment of flying parties had 

 proved ,inetFe6lual, by the length of their marches, the difficulty 



of 



