272 ' LOSS OF A JAMAICA SLOOP. 
scout; which observing the foregoing directions, paddled off 
the shore, and the enemy after her: when they saw their plot 
succeeded according to their wishes, they took their opportu- 
nity and put all out of the river, and put the Spaniards off 
from the shore as they designed, and attacked them so furi- 
ously that they were soon conquered, and killed them, every 
man, except one negro, who spoke English, that pretended he 
had been made prisoner by them, and forced on that expedition, 
to whom they gave quarter ; but soon after they went ashore 
he made his escape to the Spanish settlements, and gave them 
an account of what was become of their friends. 
" The inhabitants of Jamaica had a project of inviting the 
Musketoe people to live there, and assigning them certain 
lands as their own possessions, and they should have and en- 
joy all the liberties of Englishmen ; but whether that project 
was brought to perfection, or that the people of the Muske- 
toes did not like to quit their own country, 1 am unacquainted ; 
but certain it is they are still there. About four or five years 
since, the government of Jamaica made a law for inviting 
several hundred of them to that island, in order to take or de- 
stroy the run-away negroes who did much mischief to the 
out plantations, and accordingly sloops were sent to invite 
them ; and there went to Jamaica about two hundred, who 
were formed into companies, under officers of their own na- 
tion, and were paid forty shillings per month, and every man 
shoes. They staid at that island several months, and perform- 
ed the service they v»^ere employed in very well, and were 
sent home again well pleased. I being then at Jamaica, had 
the story from them as follows : When they were out in search 
of the run-away negroes, and having some white men for 
their guides who knew the country, one of them seeing a wild 
hog, shot it: at which the Musketoe Indians were much dis- 
pleased, telling them, that was not the way to surprise the ne- 
groes, for if there were any within hearing of that gun they 
would immediately fly, and they should not be able to take 
any of them ; and told them, if they wanted any provisioi7« 
they would kill some with their lances, or bows and arrows, 
which made no noise. They are excellent hunters and fish- 
ers, and no people so expert and dexterous at striking fish as 
they are; so that they look upon it as the greatest ill-luck, if 
they miss a fish when they have a fair stroke at it. Few of 
the Jamaica sloops go to sea without one of these Musketoe 
men, to whom they give good wages, and are treated in the 
most friendly manner by the commanders, being always their 
