46S JAMAICA. 



Sufpkions ar'ibng, that this confpiracy was more extenfive than at 

 firfl: appeared, and iipoa recolkftioii that there had been a merry 

 meeting of the Negroes at Ballard's Valley two nights preceding 

 the infurre6lion, and that the Coromantins had feparated from the reft,, 

 a ftfiifl inquiry was entered into; and upon examining fome Coroman~ 

 tins, who were moil lufpeded, they impeached feveral of their coun- 

 trymen ; frefh evidences produced further difcoveries, and at length 

 the plot was partly unraveled. It appeared that the Coromantins on. 

 no lefs than feventeen eftates in that parifh were engaged in the con- 

 federacy ; that Blackwall was the principal infligator ; and that the 

 premature rifmg at Whitehall was owing to the impetuoiity of one 

 Quamin, belonging to their gang, who would not wait the appointed 

 time ; fo that it is probable, if they had not met a repulfe foon after their 

 firfi: outrage, the infurreftion would have been general, from the en- 

 couragement their better fuccefs would have given to the reft of the con- 

 fpirators. Some among them regretted exceedingly the precipitate eager- 

 nefs of Quamin, and threw out infinuations that the Marons were in the 

 fecret, and that the infurredion was intended to have opened at once in 

 three different places, at a certain day foon after Chriftmas; that three' 

 days previo.ns notice was to be given of the exaft hour of rifing ; and 

 3S they hoped to find the white people off their guard, and to get pof- 

 feflion of fufiicient arms and powder, in the feveral dwelling-houfes, 

 they bad full confidence, that, by their precautions, and fecrecy, they 

 fliould carry all before them, and make amends for their former dif- 

 appointment ; they knew, that a large ftock of fire arms and ammu- 

 tion would be abfolutely neceflary ; one of their firll attempts there- 

 fore was to be, the furprize of the fort at Port Maria, which was 

 garrifoned by only a fmall number of fickly foldiers, whom they fup- 

 pofed incapable of making any refiftance ; thefe they were to drive 

 into the fea with their bill- hooks, and then proceed to maffacre ail the 

 Whites in that neighbourhood. A fecond party were to ravage theEaft- 

 ern quarter of the parifh, quite down to the very coaft ; whilfi: a third 

 hand fhould take their route through the Southern diftridf, and pe- 

 netrate by the woods to Sixteen-mile-walk, where they pretended 

 to have feveral affociates in readincfs ; then, uniting their forces, they 

 were to ILuT^hter, or force the white inhabitants to take refu":e on 

 board the fhips, after which they were to divide the conquered coun- 

 4 ^^7 



