180 
WANDERINGS IN 
THIRD 
JOURNEY 
account of this engagement with the negroes in the 
forest, from Mr. Edmonstone’s own mouth. 
He received four slugs in his body, as will be seen 
in the sequel. 
The plantations of Demerara and Essequibo are 
bounded by an almost interminable extent of forest. 
Hither the runaway negroes repair, and form settle¬ 
ments, from whence they issue to annoy the colonists, 
as occasion may offer. 
In 1801, the runaway slaves had increased to an 
alarming extent. The Governor gave orders, that 
an expedition should be immediately organized, and 
proceed to the woods, under the command of Charles 
Edmonstone, Esq. General Hislop sent him a 
corporal, a sergeant, and eleven men, and he was 
joined by a part of the colonial militia, and by sixty 
Indians. 
With this force Mr. Edmonstone entered the forest, 
and proceeded in a direction towards Mahaica. 
He marched for eight days through swamps, and 
over places obstructed by fallen trees and the bush- 
rope ; tormented by myriads of mosquitos, and ever 
in fear of treading on the poisonous snakes, which 
can scarcely be distinguished from the fallen leaves. 
At last he reached a wooded sand-hill, where the 
Maroons had intrenched themselves in great force. 
Not expecting to come so soon upon them, Mr. 
Edmonstone, his faithful man Coffee, and two Indian 
chiefs, found themselves considerably a-head of their 
own party. As yet, they were unperceived by the 
enemy, but, unfortunately, one of the Indian chiefs 
