The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-04

peared, and finally Cudjoe himself. The
formidable chief was not highly military in
appearance, being short, fat, hump-backed,
dressed in tattered blue coat without
skirts or sleeves, and an old felt hat with
out rim. But if he had blazed with reg
mental scarlet, he could not have been
treated with more distinguished considera-
ton; indeed, in that case, sthe exchange of
hats" with which DIR. Russell finally volun-
teered, in Maroon fashion, to ratify nego-
tiations, would have been less severe test
of good fellowship. This fine stroke of
diplomacy had its effect, therefore; the
rebel captains agreed to formal inter-
view with Colonel Guthrie and Captain
Sadler, and treaty was at last executed
with all due solemnity, under a large cot
ton-tree at the entrance of Guthrie's
Defile. This treaty recognized the military
rank of Captain Cudjoe, Captain Accom-
pong, and the rest, gave assurance that
the Maroons should be forever hereafter
in perfect state Of freedom and liberty"
ceded to them fifteen hundred acres of
land; and stipulated only that they should
keep the peace, should harbor no fugitive
from justice Or from slavery, and should
allow two white commissioners to remain
among them, simply to represent the Brit
ish government.
During the following year a separate
treaty was made with another large body
of insurgents, called the Windward Ma
rooms. This was not effected, however,
until after an unsuccessful military attempt,
in which the mountaineers gained signal
triumph. By artful devices-a few fires
left burning, with old women to watch
them-a few provision-grounds exposed by
clearing away the bushes-they lured the
troops far up among the mountains, and
then surprised them by an ambush. The
militia all fed, and the regulars took ref
uge under large cliff in stream, where
they remained four hours up to their waists
in water, until finally they forded the river,
under full fire, with terrible loss. Three
months after this, however, the Maroons
consented to an amicable interview, ex-
changing hostages first. The position of
the white hostage, at least, was not the
most agreeable; he complained that he was
beset by the women and children, with
indignant cries of "Buckra," Buckra," while
the little boys pointed their fingers at him
as if stabbing him, and that with evident
relish. However, Captain Quao, like
Captain Cudjoe, made treaty at last,
and hats were interchanged instead of hos
tages.
Independence being thus won and ac-
knowledged, there was suspension of
hostilities for some years. Among the
wild mountains of Jamaica, the Maroons
dwelt in savage freedom. SO healthful
and beautiful was the situation of their
chief town, that the English government
has erected barracks there of late years, as
being the most salubrious situation on the
island. They breathed an air ten degrees
cooler than that inhaled by the white pop
ulation below, and they lived on daintier
diet, so that the English epicures used to
go up among them for good living. The
mountaineers caught the strange land
crabs, plodding in companies of millions
theirside-long path from mountain to ocean,
and from ocean to mountain again. They
hunted the wild boars, and prepared the
flesh by sailing and smoking it in layers of
aromatic leaves, the delicious "jerked hog"
of Buccaneer annals. They reared cattle
and poultry, cultivated corn and yams,
plantains and cocoas, guavas, and papaws,
and mameys, and ayocados, and all luxu-
rious West India fruits; the very weeds of
their orchards had tropical luxuriance in
Shaiv fror onl -, thn.r
from the doors of their little thatched huts
they looked across these gardens of delight
to the magnificent lowland forests, and
over those again to the faint line of far
off beach, the fainter ocean horizon, and
the illimitable sky.
They had senses like those of our In
dams, tracked each other by the smell of
the smoke of fires in the air, and called to
each other by horns, using special note
to designate each of their comrades, and
Distinguishing it beyond the range of or
dinary hearing. They spoke English di-
luted with Spanish and African words, and
practised Obeah rites quite undiluted with
Christianity. Of course they associated
largely with the slaves, without any precise
regard to treaty stipulations; sometimes
brought in fugitives, and sometimes con-
cealed them; left their towns and settled
on the planters lands, when they preferred
them, but were quite orderly and luxurious
ly happy. During the formidable insur-
reotion Of the Koromantyn slaves, in 1850,
they played dubious part: when left to
go on their own way, they did something
towards suppressing it,-but when placed
under the guns of the troops and ordered
to fire on their own color, they threw
themselves on the ground without diseharg-
ing shot. Nevertheless, they gradually
came up into rather reputable standing;
they grew more and more industrious and
steady; and after they had joined very
heartily in resisting D'Estaing's threaten
ed invasion of the island in 1879, it be-
came the fashion to speak Of sour faithful
and afectionate Maroons"
In 1895 their position was as follows:
Their numbers had not materially increas-
ed, for magy had strayed off and settled
on the outskirts of plantations-nor ma
terially diminished, for many runaway
olavas had ioinad them-whiIa tbpre ware