chap, iii.] WEST INDIES. -71 
pursuit of them; but some others ot the ringlead¬ 
ers being taken, and a general inclination to re¬ 
volt appearing among all the Koromantyn negroes 
in the island, it was thought necessary to make 
a few terrible examples of some of the most guilty. 
Of three who were clearly proved to have been 
concerned in the murders committed at Ballard’s 
valley, one was condemned to be burnt, and the 
other two to be hung up alive in irons, and left to 
perish in that dreadful situation. The wretch that 
was burnt was made to sit on the ground, and his 
body being chained to an iron stake, the fire was 
applied to his feet. He uttered not a groan, and 
saw his legs reduced to ashes with the utmost 
firmness and composure ; after which, one of his 
arms by some means getting loose, he snatched a 
brand from the fire that was consuming him, and 
filing it in the face of the executioner. The two 
that were hung up alive were indulged at their 
own request, with a hearty meal immediately be¬ 
fore they were suspended on the gibbet, which 
was erected in the parade of the town of Kingston. 
From that time, until they expired, they never 
uttered the least complaint, except only of cold 
in the night, but diverted themselves all day long 
in discourse with their countrymen, who were per¬ 
mitted, very improperly, to surround the gibbet. 
On the seventh day a notion prevailed among the 
spectators, that one of them wished to communi¬ 
cate an important secret to his master, my near 
relation; who being in St. Mary’s parish, the com¬ 
manding officer sent for me. I endeavoured by 
