INHABITANTS OF JAÎ^IAICA. 387 



runaways were called. A few words, especially terms of endearment, still survive 

 of this idiom. 



Thanks to their knowledge of the locality, and to the " drum language," by 

 which news was rapidly spread from hill to hill, as amongst their Dwalla kindred 

 of the Cameroons on the West Coast of Africa, frequent communications were kept 

 up from one end of the island to the other; munitions and other supplies were also 

 obtained through their secret intercourse with the plantation negroes. Their 

 bands, confined chiefly to the upper valley of the Dry River, towards the centre 

 of the island, constantly harassed the planters, who had to barricade their dwell- 

 ings and keep continually on the watch. Exposed places had to be guarded by 

 soldiers, and the governor occasionally applied to the mainland for help. Thus 

 were formed those friendly relations between Great Britain and the Mosquitos 

 Indians of Nicaragua which were afterwards used as a plea for assuming a protec- 

 torate over the inhabitants of the seaboard between Yucatan and the Rio San 

 Juan. 



At one time the Jamaica planters were even fain to sue for peace, and in 1759 

 the little Maroon republics were formally constituted, with their towns, respective 

 limits, and recognised rights. But in their excessive confidence they also under- 

 took to construct roads in order to open up the country. In the terras of the treaty 

 of peace the Maroons were also required, in return for the concession of territory 

 and political independence, to respect the laws published by the whites, and to 

 surrender, " alive or dead," all runaway blacks seeking to escape from the servitude 

 of the planters. This was a fatal mistake, for the '' republicans" thereby forfeited all 

 hope of aid from the plantation negroes, when the final struggle came. The stipu- 

 lation was faithfully carried out by the Maroons of the free villages, who sent back all 

 fugitives to their masters, while the planters, gradually enlarging their domains, 

 narrowed to a corresj)ondiug extent the cordon of guarded lines encircling the 

 African republics. 



At last, in 1795, came the inevitable conflict. Two Maroons of Trelawney 

 Town, convicted of having stolen a pig, were sentenced to be publicly whipped by 

 the hangman. Great was the indignation of their comrades. " You might have 

 beheaded the thieves," they exclaimed, "and we should not have raised a protest ; 

 but you have inflicted a punishment on them reserved for slaves, which is contrary 

 to the treaty." They complained at the same time that some of their land had 

 been appropriated, and chiefs imposed on them whom they had not elected. 



Martial law was at once proclaimed throughout the island, and British troops, 

 aided by a band of allied Maroons, invaded the reserved territory of Trelawney 

 Town. But the expedition, having been rej)ulsed, was changed to a blockade. Had 

 the plantation negroes at that juncture revolted, the whites must have met the same 

 fate as those of Haiti. But the slaves, accustomed to regard the Maroons as for- 

 midable enemies and accomplices of their masters, never stirred, while the whites, 

 assisted by 200 bloodhounds they had obtained from Cuba, were still able easily to 

 maintain the blockade of the revolted territory, and thus reduce the Maroons to 

 helplessness. 



