LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 271 
some years amongst those people, and being a subtle cunning 
fellow, and observing the sookeys well provided for, set up 
the trade with as good success as any among them. But to 
go on: When the Indians return from an expedition, if they 
have had success, every man has such a share, according to 
what part he furnished at their setting out. If any of them 
are killed in the enterprise, he who had the chief direction of 
that affair must make satisfaction to the deceased relations, by 
making them presents, in order to pacify them for such loss, 
and become a continual rent-charge to them. I inquired into 
the nature of their government, and what number of fighting 
men they could raise ; and found, by the best information, 
that they were a kind of monarchy, having a chief whom 
they call king; though there are several other chiefs that 
have great power and authority among them ; but no man 
was compelled to go upon any service, and they are not above 
eight hundred fighting men. They are of the race of people 
which the Spaniards found when they conquered that country; 
and though they have been obliged to lea\'e the more cham- 
paign country for a lowmorassy one, they have always main- 
tained their liberty, notwithstanding the Spaniards have made 
several attempts to destroy them, but as often failed in their 
designs by the courage and bravery of those people, who 
have gallantly defended themselves, and killed great numbers 
of Spaniards, when they have invaded them, and now live in 
the greatest enmity with them, and kill them wherever they 
meet with them, which they call hiding them. I am credibly 
informed that about two years since the Musketoe people 
had notice that the Spaniards had formed a design against 
them, and were preparing to invade them; w^hich they were 
no sooner assured of, but they, like a brave and gallant peo- 
ple, sent out a fleet of canoes, armed with some hundreds of 
their best men, in order to intercept them; and proceeded 
with their fleet toward that part of the coast where the Span- 
iards were preparing for their expedition, which was near the 
river Looe ; but not meeting them as they expected, judged 
they were not ready, and therefore put into a river in order to 
intercept them as they passed by, and contrived the matter 
thus : They sent a nimble canoe out of the river as a scout, 
with orders, as soon as they should discover the enemy, to pad- 
dle off the shore, in order to draw them from thence, that 
they might have no opportunity of escaping, having other peo- 
ple on the look out ashore : and after waiting several weeks, 
they discovered the Spanish fleet of canoes, who chased their 
