THE MAROONS. 1G1 



wizards, Maroonland may vie with England, Scotland, or 

 even New England itself, in times gone by. They are a 

 remarkably fine set of people, in physical stature and mental 

 capabilities far above the other Jamaica blacks. It has 

 been assumed indeed, but on what seems no good authority, 

 that old Carib, or aboriginal, blood mingles with that of the 

 negro in the Maroon population. The opinion is improbable. 

 The Spaniards are described as having made a total clear- 

 ance of the entire native race. Whilst the Maroons gave 

 us trouble, much was alleged against the impolicy of the 

 ordinances which restricted them within certain limits. It 

 was argued that if they had been allowed to mingle freely 

 with the rest of the negro community, time might have 

 wrought an amalgamation of the two. Against the validity 

 of that opinion much might be adduced ; at any rate this 

 much is certain, viz. that since the abolition of slavery, the 

 Maroons have shown no disposition to merge into the general 

 negro population of Jamaica. They still prefer their moun- 

 tain life, their hunter's habits; and while wild pigs are to 

 be had in plenty, these people will hardly settle down into 

 the condition of any sober agricultural occupation. 



II 



