66 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, she upset,” and it was most fortunate for them that she did so ; for 
had they launched out upon the ocean, where could they have gone ? 
Dec. or what could a few ignorant women have done by themselves, drifting 
upon the waves, but ultimately have fallen a sacrifice to their folly? 
However, the fate of the vessel was a great disappointment, and they 
continued much dissatisfied with their condition ; probably not without 
some reason, as they were kept in great subordination, and were fre- 
quently beaten by M‘Coy and Quintal, who appear to have been of 
very quarrelsome dispositions ; Quintal in particular, who proposed 
“ not to laugh, joke, or give any thing to any of the girls.” 
On the 16th August they dug a grave, and buried the bones of 
the murdered people; and on October 3d, 1794, they celebrated the 
murder of the black men at Quintal’s house. On the 1 1th November, 
a conspiracy of the women to kill the white men in their sleep was 
discovered ; upon which they were all seized, and a disclosure ensued ; 
but no punishment appears to have been inflicted upon them, in 
consequence of their promising to conduct themselves properly, and 
never again to give any cause “ even to suspect their behaviour.” 
However, though they were pardoned. Young observes, “We did not 
forget their conduct; and it was agreed among us, that the first 
female who misbehaved should be put to death ; and this punishment 
was to be repeated on each offence until we could discover the real 
intentions of the women.” Young appears to have suffered much 
from mental perturbation in consequence of these disturbances; and 
observes of himself on the two following days, that “ he was bothered 
and idle.” 
The suspicions of the men induced them, on the 15th, to conceal 
two muskets in the bush, for the use of any person who might be so 
fortunate as to escape, in the event of an attack being made. On the 
30th November, the women again collected and attacked them ; but 
no lives were lost, and they returned on being once more pardoned, 
but were again threatened with death the next time they misbehaved. 
Threats thus repeatedly made, and as often unexecuted, as might 
be expected, soon lost their effect, and the women formed a party 
whenever their displeasure was excited, and hid themselves in the 
