206 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



of Cardross Park, near Dumbarton. This brave 

 colonist never returned from the woods without 

 being victorious. Once, in an attack upon the 

 rebel negroes' camp, he led the way, and received 

 two balls in his body; at the same moment that 

 he was wounded, two of his Indians fell dead by 

 his side ; he recovered after his life was despaired 

 of, but the balls could never be extracted. 



Since the above appeared in print, I have had 

 the account of this engagement with the negroes 

 in the forest from Mr. Edmonstone's own mouth. 



He received four slugs in his body, as will be 

 seen in the sequel. 



The plantations of Demerara and Essequibo 

 are bounded by an almost interminable extent of 

 forest. Hither the runaway negroes repair, and 

 form settlements, from whence they issue to 

 annoy the colonists, as occasion may offer. 



In 1801, the runaway slaves had increased to 

 an alarming extent. The Governor gave orders 

 that an expedition should be immediately or- 

 ganized, and proceed to the woods, under the 

 command of Charles Edmonstone, Esq. General 

 Hislop sent him a corporal, a sergeant, and eleven 

 men, and he was joined by a part of the colonial 

 militia, and by sixty Indians. 



With this force Mr. Edmonstone entered the 

 forest, and proceeded in a direction towards 

 Mahaica. 



He marched for eight, days through swamps, 

 and over places obstructed by fallen trees and 

 the bush-rope; tormented by myriads of mos- 

 quitos, and ever in fear of treading on the 



