BOOK III. CHAP. III. 409 



try with the M.irons, who, they alledged, had made choice of the woody 

 uncultivated parts, as being moft convenient for their hog-hunting; 

 the Coromantins were to enjoy all the remainder, with the cattle and 

 llieep, and live like gentlemen; at leail they flattered themfclves, that 

 the governor would apply to the king of the white men, to put the 

 Coromantins upon the fame eftablifhment as tlie Marons, who, they 

 laid, were difguftcd at the little refpcft fliewn them, and wanted the 

 Coromantins to be incorporated with them, in order to become of more 

 confequence in the eyes of the white inhabitants. 



This account of the defection of the Marons was fo improbable, 

 that the white people would not give any credit to it : ia the firft 

 place, it appeared not at all likely that X.\\t M irons, who had alwav'S 

 received the higheft encouragement from the legiflature and private 

 perfons, would hazard the lofs of their liberty and lives, by a trea- 

 Ibnable breach of the treaty; and upon the uncertain iffiie of an in- 

 teftine war, by the event of which, if fuccefbful to them, they could 

 gain nothing more than what they already enjoyed ; fecondly, they 

 were to admit a dangerous fet of confederates, diiVmd in intereft, and 

 iuperior to them in number, by twenty to one, who would undoubt- 

 edly give the law to, ar.d hold them in perpetual fuhjeilion. The 

 ftory was therefore fuppoled to be either the relult of a deep-laid policy, 

 to ftir up a jealoufy and difference bciween-the Marons and white 

 people, from which fome advantage might accrue to the Coroman- 

 tins in fome future infurre6tion ;.or elfe, if the Marons did really af- 

 foeiate in any fuch plan, they mufl: have done fo, from a wicked de- 

 fign of embroiling the Coromantins in frcfli rebellion, in the fuppref- 

 fion of which they might reap a conuderable emolument, as they 

 had heretotore experienced, by killing or taking prifoners. Something 

 like fuch a proje6l ufed to engage the frontier Indians in North Ame- 

 rica, who were never fo happy as when the French and Englini were 

 at war, becaufe they were fure of employment and reward, on one 

 fide or other; and for this reafon alone, many of their tribes were 

 exceedingly out of humour with the In ft treaty of peace, -which gave 

 the finllhing blow to thel'e contentions for the maitery, and to their 

 mercenary artifices. If therefore the Marons had any concern in the 

 plot, it is moft reafonable to believe that fuch muft have been their 

 true defign. The importance of this evidence naturally made the 



p.irifhioners 



