472 JAMAICA. 



It 13 wortliy our remark, that the ringleaders of the St. Mary's 

 ■rebellion, in 1760, belonged to a gentleman diftinguifhed for his 

 humanitVj and exceflive indulgence towards hisflaves in general, and 

 thofe in particular; his lenity fo far influenced him, that, upon their 

 complaint, he never foiled to difcharge their overleex", and employ 

 another more agreeable to them. No pretence of ill ufage was 

 alledged by any of the prifoners, in any of theie infurredions, by 

 way of extenuating their mifconduct;, the fole ground, and objeft of 

 their taking arms, as they unanhnoujly concurred in acknowledging, 

 was, tlie vain-glorious dellre of fubduiiig the country; and they 

 wanted neither ambition nor ielf-conndencr, to doubt their ability, 

 or luccefs, in accomplifhing this proje^V. It mull be allowed, that 

 confpiracies fo extenfive could not have been conceived, me- 

 thodized, and concluded upon, without various meetings of the 

 •confpirators, in different parts of the ifland ; and hence, there mufl: 

 appear to have been a very culpable inattention among the white 

 inhabitants, who negledted to keep a vigilant eye over theCoroman- 

 tins in general, during their hours of leilure or recreation ; for a 

 feafonable regard to their private cabals and feparate affociations 

 might have proved the means of deteding their plot, long before it 

 ■was ripe for execution ; and to prevent, is always better, as well as 

 'cafier, than to remedy fuch evils. They fliould remember the 

 tlying words of one of the Coromantins executed in 1765, who 

 repented his having been concerned in the rebellion, and cautioned 

 the white perfons prefent, " never to truft any of his countrymen." 

 Much having been faid of this clafs of Negroes, who have indeed 

 been the heroes of my tale, it may not be unacceptable to give fome 

 account of their origin, and qualities. 



The Negroes whopafs under this general defcription are brought 

 from the Gold coaft ; but we remain uncertain, whether they are 

 natives of that trait ofGuiney, or receive their feveral names of 

 Akims, Fantins, Afliantees, Quamboos, &c. from the towns fo 

 called, at whofe markets they are bought. That diflrid is populus 

 and extenfive J and may therefore afford a confiderable number of cri- 

 ininals every year for tranfportation ; however, whether they are 

 brought from Ibme diftance inland, or are the refufe and outcafl: of the 

 feveral provinces whofe names they bear; it is certain they are marked 



with 



