THE MAROONS OF JAMAICA AND NOVA SCOTIA. 265 



districts and beautiful towns then rising in the forests north of Lake 

 Ontario. He desired to settle the Maroons in Upper Canada, as 

 he also thought the climate suitable to them. The Assembly, how- 

 ever, with the approval of the Home Government, decided on Halifax. 

 It seems strange that the Home Government had not learned from 

 the experience of the " Loyal negroes " to avoid the choice of a place 

 with climate so imsuited to the race. The vessels arrived and were 

 inspected as stated. The Mai'oon men were asked what they would 

 do, and expressed willingness to work for " Massa King " and " Massa 

 King's son." The General and Admiral and Governor, Sir John 

 Wentworth, arranged terms with the people. The Maroons were 

 landed from the vessels — the Dover, Mary, and Ann — on which they 

 liad come. Admiral Richery, with a threatening Fi'ench squadron, 

 was off the coast, and it was desirable to get the fortifications com- 

 jileted. The Maroons worked on them. They laboured mainly 

 on earthworks since obliterated by more extensive and permanent 

 improvements to the great citadel and harbour made when the Duke 

 of Wellington was Prime Minister. Mai'oon hill near Halifax still 

 retains their name. Their chief men were Colonels Montague and 

 Johnston, Major Jarratt, and Captains Smith, Charles Shaw, David 

 Shaw, Dunbar, iind Harding. 



For two years these people lived in Nova Scotia, but made little 

 progress in civilization or I'eligion. Most of them were settled on 

 lands at Preston ; some families v/ere removed to Boydville. A 

 schoolmaster was appointed and the religious training was entrusted 

 to an orthodox gentleman, the Rev. B. G. Gray, and a curate with 

 glebe house and salary supplied. Sir John Wentworth asked for a 

 grant of £240 per annum, to be applied in religious instruction and 

 education. He hoped this course would " reclaim them to the Church 

 of England, and disseminate Christian piety, morality, and loyalty, 

 among them." He also sent an order to England for many things 

 required by them, among which wei-e " 40 gross coat and 60 gross 

 white vest metal buttons, strong ; Device an Alligator holding 

 wheat ears and an olive branch. Inscription : Jamaica to the 

 Maroons, 1796" He described the people as " healthy, peaceful, 

 orderly, inoffensive, and highly delighted with the country." 



The Commissioners, Messi'S. Quarrell and Ouchterlony, with not less 



