456 JAMAICA. 



on by the Coromantins in every quarter of the Ifland, and their ahnoft 

 incredible fecrefy In the forming their plan of infurreftion; for it ap- 

 peared in evidence, that the firft eruption in St. Mary's, was a matter 

 preconcerted, and known to all the chief men in the different diftrifts ; 

 and the fecret was probably confided to fome hundreds, for feveral 

 months before the blow was ftruck. 



Some perfons furmifed, that they were privately encouraged, and 

 furnifhed with arms and ammunition, by the French and Spaniards, 

 whofe piccaroons were often feen hovering near the coaft; but there 

 feems no juft foundation for fuch an opinion: it is certain, the rebels 

 found an eafier means of fupplying themfelves with large quantities of 

 powder, ball, lead, and feveral ftands of arms, on the different eftates 

 where they broke out; on fome of thefc, they found two or three 

 dozen mufquets and cutlafles, which were not guarded by more than 

 two or three white men. The planters, as I have before remarked, 

 very imprudently kept thefe magazines, which were by fat too many 

 for their necefihry defence, and attrafted the notice of the Coroman- 

 tins, who are pradlifed in the ufe of arms from their youth in their 

 ■own country, and are at all times difpofed for mutiny. 



A frelh infurreftion happened in St. James's, which threatened to 

 become very formidable, had it not been for the aflivity of brigadier 

 Witter of the militia, and lieut. colonel Spraggeof the 49th, who dif- 

 perfed the infurgents, and took feveral prifoners ; but the reft efcaped, 

 and, uniting with the ftragglers of the other defeated parties, formed a 

 large gang, and infefted Carpenter's Mountains for fome time. Ano- 

 ther party of twelve Coromantins in Clarendon, whom their matter, 

 from a too good opinion of their fidelity, had imprudently armed, at 

 their own earneft intreaty, and fent in queft of a fmall detached band 

 of rebels, of whofe haunt he had gained intelligence, deferted to their 

 countrymen, but were foon after furprized, and the greater part of 

 them killed or taken. Damon, one of the Weftmoreland chiefs, w ith 

 a fmall gang, having poftcd himfelf at a place called Mile Gully in 

 Clarendon, a voluntary party, under command of Mr. Scot and Mr. 

 Greig, with three or four more, went in queft of them. They had a 

 long way to march in the night, through the woods, and acrofs a dif- 

 ■ficult country ; but, having provided themfelves with a trufty guide, 

 they came up to the haunt about midnight, attacked the rebels without 



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