TRADITIONAL LORE. 217 
gathered in, by use of force and by the necessities 
of their situation, until, of men, women, and children, 
nearly five thousand were captured. These were re- 
moved to the small island of Balliceaux, off the coast 
of St. Vincent, deprived of canoes and arms, and kept 
there for months. Captain George declared that the 
‘English government aimed to destroy as many of 
them as possible, and caused lime to be mixed in their 
bread ; but of course this was false, and probably arose 
from the fact that the water, being impregnated with 
lime, caused much sickness and death. 
In February, 1797, they were all carried to the 
island of Ruatan, off the Honduras coast. When the 
vessels arrived there, it was found necessary to dis- 
lodge a party of Spaniards in possession, who had 
built a fort. After a hard fight it was taken, and the 
Caribs left to the mercy of whomsoever should appear 
against them. The Carib lands were thus left deso- 
late; they were declared forfeited, surveyed and sold. 
In 1805, the few remaining Caribs were pardoned, and 
a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, near Morne 
Ronde, was granted them, this territory not being con- 
sidered fertile nor available for sugar-land. Here the 
majority of the Indians have lived in peace ever since. 
It appeared strange to me that this settlement at 
Morne Ronde was composed almost wholly of Black 
Caribs, the few families of pure Yellow Caribs living 
.on the eastern shore and paying rent for land once in 
full possession of their ancestors. It may have been 
that the innate cowardice of the Black Caribs, born 
of their negro blood, prevented them from taking an 
active part in the war, and may have induced them 
to seek the protection of the English. The “ Rangers,” 
