all those Negroes who were harshly treated, or disposed to idleness.

Dissentions arising among the Maroons, a party of them, previous to the year 1735, had separated from the rest. These were distinguished by the name of Cottawoods. On hearing that a considerable number of slaves had quitted the upper settlements in Clarendon, and were carrying on war against the white inhabitants, under the guidance of an enterprizing chief, the Cottawoods, men, women, and children, left the eastern parts of the island, and making forced marches through a wild and unexplored country, they joined the Clarendon slaves, and placed themselves under the command of their leader. Cudjoe's force was also increased, though at what period, is not certainly known, by another tribe of Negroes, distinct from the rest in many respects; their figure, character, language, and country, being different from those of their sable companions. Their skin was of a deeper jet than that of any other Negro; their features more nearly resembled those of Europeans; their hair was of a loose and soft texture, like that of a Mulatto or Quadroon; their form was more delicate, and their stature rather lower than those of the people they joined; to a European they seemed handsomer, but did not appear to have originally possessed such hardiness of character, or so much physical strength, as the other slaves under the command of Cudjoe; and although they had probably lived with the latter seventy or eighty years, their original character could still be observed in their descendants. They were called Madagascars, and related, that they ran away from some settlements about Lacovia, in the parish of St. Elizabeth, soon after the planters had bought them. Though not originally numerous, they were very prolific, and added considerably to the strength of their leader, who had now become seriously formidable.

The term Maroon had been hitherto confined to the body of Spanish fugitive slaves; but it was now also applied to Cudjoe and his followers. Finding it necessary to adopt a more regular system of warfare, than that in which they had formerly been engaged, they, during frequent skirmishes with the troops sent out to attack them, acquired an art of attack and defence, which, in their scarcely accessible fastnesses, has often baffled the skill of the bravest soldiers. By means of his friends in the plantations, Cudjoe was always sufficiently apprized of any expedition, which was fitted out against him; and knowing the route which the troops must necessarily take, prepared ambuscades, which, from the inequality of surface, and thickness of the woods, it was utterly impossible to foresee, or overcome. Accordingly, he frequently defeated his assailants, and in this manner, supplied himself with arms and ammunition. He had other means of procuring these necessary articles of warfare; and the Maroons, sensible of the value of them, seldom fired a shot ineffectually. These circumstances enabled Cudjoe to protract the war for a great number of years.

Cudjoe's power had now become alarmingly formidable; for, besides being joined by the Cottawoods, he had established a correspondence with the old Maroons, who still carried on hostilities against the planters in the east; and who, encouraged by Cudjoe's activity and success, became bolder and more enterprizing. The government, therefore, found it absolutely necessary, to establish several advanced posts, in the neighbourhood of these restless and implacable enemies. Some were formed in the east, to check the incursions of the old Maroons ; and one was established in the centre of the island, which was the place nearest to the general rendezvous of Cudjoe's party, at this period, by far the most formidable. Other posts were established in various parts of the island, by means of which,

the necessity of long marches was superseded; and communications between the different parties being kept up by means of small foot-paths, the military operations were much facilitated. Confidential Negroes, called Black-shot, Mulattoes, and Indians from the Mosquito-shore, were added to the regular troops employed in this arduous and inglorious contest, and were of great service in tracing the haunts of the Maroons, and in discovering their settlements and provision-grounds. Cudjoe, after several skirmishes with these troops, in which they always lost the greater number, was obliged to retreat. He retired to a spot in the parish of Trelawney, near the entrance of the great cock-pits, or glens, to the north west; the first of which, called Petty-River-Bottom, has since become well known. This cock-pit is accessible only by a very narrow defile, and is considered a large one, containing nearly seven acres of land, and an excellent spring of water. Cudjoe really displayed great judgment in the choice of his position, as in case of alarm, he could throw himself into the cock-pit, from which, no force or violence could possibly force him. The choice of this position was equally judicious, with respect to the facility of commencing his predatory excursions, as the parishes of St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, lay open before him, which presenting more extensive, and, consequently less defensible frontiers, afforded him favourable opportunities of acting with smaller detachments, and of obtaining abundant supplies from different quarters. Sending out parties in various directions, and to a considerable distance, he deceived the government with respect to his real situation, and even kept up alarms in the neighbourhood of his former position. He now augmented the body placed under the command of his brother Accompong, and established them on the northern border of the parish of St. Elizabeth, where the country affords an abundant supply of cattle. This station was

above the mountains of Nassau, where there is still a town, called Accompong.

Thus did these people maintain themselves for several years in a state of savage freedom, living in indolence while their provisions lasted, and ravaging the country, when excited by their wants. In their inroads, they exercised the most horrid barbarities. The weak and defenceless, whenever surprised by them, fell victims of their cruelty, and examples of their hatred; and though some were, no doubt, more humane than others, yet when commanded to embrue their hands in the blood of the whites, they all paid implicit obedience to their leader, and the work of death once commenced, no hand could arrest, no power could controul their fury, till all within the reach of their vengeance were destroyed.

Eight or nine years had elapsed since the fame of Cudjoe had united all the fugitive Negroes, of whatever origin, in a general interest. Edward Trelawney, who was now appointed governor in the room of Henry Cunningham of Balquhan, who died after an administration of six weeks, determined, if possible, to disperse and root out these formidable enemies. All the colonists capable of bearing arms volunteered their services, and a considerable force was collected under the command of Colonel Guthrie of the militia, (one of the enterprizing settlers from Darien), and of Captain Sadler of the regulars. But notwithstanding the greatness of these preparations, strong apprehensions were entertained of a want of ultimate success; the consequence of which would be, that the enemy would be emboldened, their cruelties would increase, war would become perpetual, and the slaves might be successfully instigated to a general insurrection. These considerations being strongly urged by the principal planters, induced the governor to propose terms of peace to the Maroons.

I

As a prompt determination was on several accounts necessary, Colonel Guthrie was directed to communicate offers of accommodation to Cudjoe as soon as possible. The intelligence was extremely acceptable to the Maroons. All they demanded, and indeed, all they wished, was, to be allowed the necessaries of life, and to be exempted from the horrors of slavery. Cudjoe, therefore, heard with infinite satisfaction, the determination of the government to make these concessions, and calling in all his detachments, anxiously awaited the arrival of the negociators. But judging from the formidable nature of the preparations made against him, he was afraid, that his white enemies meant to deceive and ensnare him. He therefore remained distrustful, and collecting all his force on a spot, where his people could easily defend themselves, continued inactive till the arrival of the peace-makers. His men were placed on the ledges of rocks, that rose almost perpendicularly to a great height, on a ground, which, compared to these precipices, might be called a plain, the extremity being narrowed into a passage, upon which the fire of the whole body might bear. This passage contracted itself into a defile of nearly half a mile long, and so narrow, that only one man could pass along it at a time. This defile, which has ever since retained the name of Colonel Guthrie, was one of the passages to the large cock-pit, called Petty River, already mentioned. The entrance is impregnable; the continuation of the line of smaller cockpits rendering the rear impregnable; while nature effectually secured the flanks of her own fortification. In this dell, were secured the Maroon women and children, and all their valuable effects. Thus situated, Cudjoe awaited the arrival of the olive-branch, and manifested his desire of an accommodation, by ordering his advanced posts not to fire a shot. His parties, therefore, on the approach of the enemy, merely sounded their horns, and retreated to the main body.