BOOK III. CHAP. HI. 447 



B — of St. Anne ; a gentleman diftinguiflied for his humanity to- 

 wards his flaves, and in particular to one of his domeftics, on whom 

 he had beftowed many extraordinary marks of kindnefs. Yet this 

 ungrateful villain, at the head of a gang who were equally dif- 

 pofed to revolt, afTaulted his mailer whilft he was in bed ; Mr. B — 

 defended himfelf for fome time with his broad fword, but beinty 

 overpowered by numbers, and difabled by wounds, he fell at length 

 a vidlim to their cruelty; they cutoff his head, fawed his fkull 

 afunder, and made ufe of it as a punch bowl; and, after doing as 

 much further mifchief as they were able, they retreated into the 

 woods. 



After the pacification made with governor Trelawney, no in- 

 furre6tion of moment occurred for many years. Some trifling 

 difturbances happened, and fome plots were deteded, but they 

 came to nothing; and indeed the feeds of rebellion were in a great 

 meafure rendered abortive, by the adivity of the Marons, who 

 fcoured the woods, and apprehended all Itraggling and vagabond 

 flaves, that from time to time defcrted from their owners. But in 

 the year 1760, a confpiracy was projeded, and conduded with 

 fuch profound fecrefy, that almoft all the Coromantin flaves 

 throughout the ifland were privy to it, without any fufpicion. 

 from the Whites. The parifli of St. Mary was fixed upon, as the; 

 mofl: proper theatre for opening their tragedy. It abounded with 

 their countrymen, was but thinly peopled with Whites, contained 

 extenfive deep woods, and plenty of provifions : fo that as the 

 engaging any confiderable number heartily in tiie fcheme, would 

 depend chiefly on the fuccefs of their firft operations, they were 

 likely to meet with a fainter refiftance in this parifli than in moft 

 others ; and fliould the ifl^'ue of the conflid prove unfavourable to 

 them, they might retreat with fecurity into the woods, and there 

 continue well fupplied with provifions, until their party fl)ould be 

 ftrengthened with fufiicient reinforcements, to enable their profe- 

 cution of the grand enterprize, whofe objed was no other than the 

 entire extirpation of the white inhabitants ; the enflaving of all 

 fuch Negroes as might refufe to join them j and the partition of 

 the ifland into fmall principalities in the African mode ; to be 

 diftributed among their leaders and head men. A principal in- 

 ducement 



