164 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



to the white men for money, and too often purchase 

 rum with it, to which they are wonderfully addicted. 



Government allows them annual presents, in order to 

 have their services when the colony deems it necessary 

 to scour the forests in quest of runaway negroes. For- 

 merly these expeditions were headed by Charles Edmon- 

 stone, Esq. now 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 settle- 

 ments, 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 organized, and pro- 

 ceed 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. 



