Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-10-16


md poultry, aud lame cattle.
1t Is The province of the sbi-eoompn tc |
dispose OF the passions. They ssll foul
winds Tor irConstant mariners dresms
aud yhan'asies for jcsl"usv; vexation aud
pam In the heart, Tor pes iidious love and
Tor the per'uried, impatient and wretchcd.
at the tardY acts o! time, to turn in prophe-
tic fury to future page in the book of Fate
and amaze the ravished sense of the tenn
pest-tossed que ent.
Laws have been made IN the West Indies
to PUNISH the Gbian practice with death
but they have had no effect. Laws. con-
strnced in the West Indies, can never
supp ess the effect of ideas. the origin of
which is III the centre of Africa.
| saw the OBJ of the famous negro rob.
Der, Three Fingered .jack, the terror of ia
maica IN 1880 and 1891. The Maroons
who slew him brought it to me.
His OBJ consisted ot the end Of goats
horn, diied with compound of grave dirt,
ashes, the hood of black cat, and human
Tat; all mixed into kind of paste. A
black cats ioa;, a drie'i toad, pigs tail, a
slip of parchment of kids skin, with cha.
racters marked in blood OH it, were also in
his obian bag.
These, with keen sabre. and two guns,
IKE Hotsnson Cruso, were Ill his Obi |:
| WIN winch aud his courage in descending
| INTO the plains and plundering to supply
his wants. and his skill in retreating iato
oiincuit Businesses. commanding the only
access to them, where none dared to fol-
low him, lie terrified the Inhabitants. and
set the civil power, and the neighboring mi
iitia OF that island, at defiance, for two
years.
! tie had neither accomplice nor associate.
ihere were few runaway negroes in the
WOODS near Mount Libanus, the place lOf
his retreat; but he had crossed their fore
heads with some of the magic in his horn,
and they could not betray him. But he
trusted no one. He scorned assistance.
lie assembled above Spartncus. He robbed
alone fought all his battles alone and
always killed his pursuers.
by his magic he was not only the dread
OF the negroes, but there wee many white
people, vino believed he was possessed of
some Supernatural power
| In hot climates females marry very Young
q often with great disparity of age. Here
Jack was the author of many troubles; for
several matchess proved unhappy.
"Giv> dog an i'll name, and hang him.
Ciamours rose on clamours against the
cruel sorcerer; and every conjugai mishap
was laid at the door of Jacks malitic speiL
OF tying the point on the wedding day.
God knows poor Jack had sins enonsh
ot ms own to carry; without loading him
with the sins of others. He would soooer
nave made 'nedean caudron for the whole
isla.d than disturb one lady's happiness.
lie had many opportunities and, though
he had mortal hatred to whltemen, he was
never known TO hurt child or abuse a wo-
man.
But even Jack himself was born to die.
AiluIed oy The reward offered by Gov.
Daliing, in Il proclamation, dated the leth
December, 17S0. and by a resolutiyn which
followed IT, of the house of assembly, two
negIoes, Quashee aud Sam, both Of SCOTS
nan, Maroon-towu. with a party OF their
towhsmen, went IN search of him.
Qdashee, before he set cut on the eypa-
dltion, GIT himself christened, and changed
his name to James john Reeder.
The expedition commenced: and the
whole party had been creeping about in the
woods for three weeks, and blockading. rs
1t were, the deepest recesses of the most
inaccessible part 81 the island, where Jack,
iar remote from all human socety, resided,
but IN vain.
Reeder aud Sam, tired with this mode of
war, resolved on proceeding in search of
MS retreat, and taking HIM by storming it,
or perishing in the attempt.
They took with them little bow. a pro.
per spirit, and good shot, and left the rest
Of the party.
These three, whom well knew, had NOT
Deen long separated before their cunning
eyes discovered, by Impressions among the
weeds and bushes, that some person must
lately have been that way.
They softly followed these Impressions.
making not the least noise Presently thew
discovered a smoke.
They prepared for war. They came I'M.
on Jack before he per eiyed them. He was
roasting Plantaias, by little fire on the
ground, at the mouth of cave.
This was a see C, not where ordinary
actOrs had common ,iart To- pIay.
Jacks looks were fierce & terrible. He
told them lie would kill them.
heeder, instead of shooting Jack. repli-
ed, that his OBJ had no power To hurt him
tor he was chris ened and that his name
was 40 longer Quashee.
JACK knew keeder; &, as if parylyzed.
ne ieit h's guns remaining on the ground,
and took up "nly his cutlass.
These two had a desperate engagement
several years before in the woods; in which
C nillct Jack lost the two fingers, which
was the origin of his present name but
House IF assembly, Goth Dec. 1880.