446 JAMAICA. 



Coromant'in Negroes, who are diftinguiflaed from their brethren by 

 their averfion to huibandry, and the martial ferocity of their difpo- 

 fition. The firft rebelHon of importance, on record, happened in 

 the year 1690, when between three and four hundred flaves, 

 belonging to Mr. Sutton's plantation in Clarendon, forced their way 

 into the dwelling-houfe, killed tbe white man entrufted with the 

 care of it, and feized upon a large ftore of fire-arms, powder and 

 ball, and fourfmall field-pieces, with fome provilions: at this time, 

 the interior fettlements, of which this was one, fituated near the 

 woods, were furnifhed in this manner with implements of defence 

 to withftand the afi!aults of the Marons, who frequently fallied out 

 in the night to attack them. The rebels, after this exploit, pro- 

 ceeded to the next plantation, and murdered the overfeer, but were 

 difappointed of being joined by the flaves belonging to it, who all 

 betook themfelves to the woods; upon this they returned to Mr. 

 Sutton's houfe, where they put every thing into a pofi:ure of de- 

 fence. By this time the white inhabitants of the neighbourhood, 

 having taken the alarm, colledled about fifty horfe and foot, 

 marched to beat up their quarters ; and, being joined by the way 

 with frefli fuccours, they increafed to a formidable body. On the 

 next day the militia began their attack, upon which the rebels 

 withdrew to the cane pieces, and fet fire to them, in order to 

 cover their retreat ; but a detachment of the militia having fetched 

 a little compafs, found means to aflault them in flank, whilfl: the 

 reft advanced upon them in front; unable to withftand this double 

 fire, the rebels immediately fled, but were fo briflcly purfued, that 

 many were killed, and two hundred of them threw down their 

 arms, and begged for mercy ; the red were afterwards either flain, 

 or taken prifoners; and the ringleaders of the confpiracy hanged. 

 I find no rebellion of any confequence for feveral years fubfequent 

 to this ; one reafon for which cefliation probably was, that the 

 Marons were endeavouring, by every means in their power, to bring 

 over the flaves in different parts of the ifland to their caufe; fuch 

 therefore as were difcontented with their condition, deferted to the 

 Marons ; but, feveral who took this ftep, performed fome previous 

 adl of outrage, by way of recommending themfelves to their new 

 iriends ; none was more horrid than what was committed on Mr. 



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