266 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



than tliree chief men of the Maroons, held court for the trial of 

 smaller oH'ences, a custom introduced from Jamaica. In time both 

 the Commissioners resigned through disagreement with the Governor 

 and were succeeded by Captain Howe, and he by Mr. Theophilus 

 Chamberlain. The two winters which ensued were unusually severe, 

 and the Maroons, unaccustomed to sucli weather, suffered and became 

 discouraged. They became generally dissatisfied, I'efused to work 

 regularly, and were addicted to cockfighting, card playing, and tlie 

 like amusements. 



The zeal of the worthy Governor who was a very sanguine philan- 

 thropist, had been well intended, but " little effect was pi'oduced 

 from weekly sermons on doctrines of faith, delivered to old and 

 young promiscuously in a language not understood," says Edwards. 

 " Some smoked their pipes, and some slept during the services." The 

 old chief Montague, whom all the Maroons honored, was asked if he 

 had undestood the sermon, and wishing not to appear ignorant, 

 I'eplied : " Massa pai-son say, no mus tief, no mus meddle with some- 

 body wife, no mus quarrel, mus set down suftly." 



The Governor assembled the men and urged them to adopt 

 Christian marriage customs, but after much discussion they would 

 say : " Dat white people fashion, dat no do for we poor Maroon." 

 They referred Sir John and his good friends to their wives. " If you 

 please, you may make the women take swear, we men can't do 

 so," meaning the marriage vow, to hold to one wife. The women 

 were called in but none would resign her right to hei- husband, or to 

 such divided interest as she held in him. They all olijected to " take 

 swear," and went off, says Dallas, in an uproar clamouring at the men 

 for making such a proposal. Some of these colored ladies even 

 broke out in " insolent observations on the latitude in which some of 

 the greatest characters known to them had indulged." 



On 21st April, 1797, Sir John Wentworth, in a letter to the Duke 

 of Clarence, said of the Maroons : " From my observation of them, 

 neither Jamaica or any other island would be long at peace, nor 

 secure from insurrection, were these people among them." 

 I am convinced they will be a useful and faithful corps to oppose an 

 invading enemy. "They do not wish to live by industry, but pi-efer war 



