344? STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



year 1725, these maroon or bush-negroes were become so 

 numerous by the accession of fresh runaways, and by the 

 natural fertility of their women, that they rendered the pro- 

 perties of the whites very insecure. They would go in bands 

 to plunder an estate, to carry off powder and fire-arms, and 

 to release such slaves as would join them. A great deal of 

 land once under cultivation and very productive, has thus been 

 conquered to liberty and desolation. Troops were sent for to 

 Europe in order to quell these insurgents. In 1730, the ring- 

 leaders were taken and barbarously executed. Even women 

 were tortured to death. Cruelty is always impolitic. A series 

 of retaliations, at which humanity sickens, ensued. White 

 planters were in their turns hooked on trees, or roasted alive. 

 Property became valueless for want of security. The expe- 

 dient of treating with the bush-negroes was at length resorted 

 to by governor Maurice in 1749. A creole negro named 

 Adoe, was the rebel chieftain. On certain conditions of tri- 

 bute he agreed to make peace with the governor : and exacted 

 as one stipulation, a regular supply of powder and fire-arms. 

 This treaty was ratified by an exchange of presents. 



It appeared afterwards that Adoe was but a petty chieftain. 

 Another rebel, called Zamzam, still continued to demand con- 

 tributions. In 1753 Baron Spoke, in 1757 Mr. Cromelyn, 

 succeeded to the governorship : both adopted the system of 



