268 LOSS OF A JAMAICA SXOOP. 
them and begot a race of mulattoes, which AA^ere the people 
that society could not bear should have any kind of command 
amongst them. Captain Hobby, who had his cow killed by 
our peoplie, was of that race, his mother being a negro. All 
the difference I observed between them was, the native In- 
dians had long black hair, and the mulatto race had strong 
bushy curled hair, a little changed in their skin ; the copper 
and black mixing made some alteration. I could not learn 
their manner of worship, or that they had any particular days 
set apart for that purpose. When I had been at my pa- 
drone's between two and three months, and heartily tired with 
this manner of life, one morning, about two o'clock, I heard 
a sudden noise of the firing of a gun at sea ; and imagining 
it to be from our consort flooj^^, which I supposed was return- 
ing again to Jamaica, and believing the captain had heard of 
our misfortune, he had made it his business to call here : and 
as Plantain river Avas the most convenient place for anchor- 
ing, I imagined he had fired a gun to giA^e us notice of his 
passing by for that place. Upon hearing this, I immediately 
got up, telling my padrone my thoughts, and my intention to 
go to Plantain river : he endeavored to persuade me to stay 
till daylight, to see if any vessel was in sight or not ; and 
told me probably it might be some old tree that was fallen 
down, which made the noise we heard. I said that I imagined 
it to be Captain Gill, and Avas resolved to go for Plantain ri- 
ver, where I hoped to find him. Having made my best com- 
pliments to my padrone for all his favors, I took my leave 
and set out about break of day, in hopes, as it grew lighter, to 
have seen the sloop 1 expected ; but no vessel appearing in 
sight, I walked briskly along the shore till I arrived at the In- 
dian plantation, our neighbors, Avhich was directly in my Avay, 
There being beyond them a very broad river Avhich I must 
pass, I desired of the Indians to let one of their young men 
put me over; which Avas immediately granted, and one of 
their Avomen gave me a roasted plantain, Avhich Avas all the 
provision I had for my journey. Going doAA-n the branch 
which led to the main river, finding it fresh Avater, I ate my 
plantain Avhile I had drink, being apprehensive I should not 
meet with any more until my arrival at Plantain river When 
I landed on the other side I pursued my journey, and AA'as in 
hopes, as I rounded the cape, to have discovered the sloop ; 
but to my extreme mortification I saAv no A^essel. I began to 
think the noise I had heard was occasioned by the fall of an 
old tree, as my padrone had suggested j but considering Plan- 
