New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-26
IN THE MAROON STRONGHOLD
THEIR businesses IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF JAMAICA
AN OLD ARMY OFFICER DESCRIBES HIS RI.
cEPTIoN AMONG THE STRANGE PEOPLE
WHO ARE REPORTED AS BEING on THE
VERGE OF AN OUTBREAK.

VERGE OF AN OUTBREAK
The telegraphed from jamaica wess
Indies. that the Maroons are in an ugly frame Of
mind and likely TO cause trouble caused Tribune
reporter TO make inquiries among the several West
Indian merchants in the hope OF finding
who knew something definite about these
around whom there has always hung KIND OF halo
Of romance. A wandering Englshman who has
many strange races found. He spent
three days with these descendants of the Spanish
slaves and gave the following tale 10 the reporter:
Some years ago / wandering ieisurely
through the Island OF Jamaica and In the Of
my drive about the island found myself the guest Of
N, the of Plantation Appleton. celebrated
for the rum 1t produces. probably the best in the
world.
The estate Is In ST. Elizabeth Parish and lies just
at the foot of the mountains that pass like back
bone from east west OF the island. My host
trusted friend of the Maroons who lived some
miles away from mis- place. up in the noun
tain. and my expressing a wish to the men in
their home he sent message 10 the chief asking
him to welcome me.
OVER A NARROW, DANGEROUS PATH.
THAT same evening Major Williams. a full-blooded
Maroon tall and gaunt. but with unmlstakabls
signs OF having some white blood running through
his veins. rode UP to the great house the name
given the propretors house all sugar estates.
and Hospitality housed for the night. He had
down TO escort up to Acompong. tho
Maroon settlement in the mountains. The start
sunrise next morning. and found the Major
wel-nformed man. The fact that was an Army
officer seemed to his friendliness. To say
that these true-blooded negroes is not cor
rect. did not who did not show signs OK
white blood. and my story Will show you, was
agreeably impressed with them. They are a hardy.
hard -workng, honest of mountaineers
THE road to Acompong was mountain path. just
wide enough for two mules to pass not always that
with generally steep precpice on the right and the
thickly wooded mountain towering up on the left
We had ridden down rather a sharp incline when we
to small gate. This showed where the
Maroon reservation commenced, and without leave
from the colonel or chief no outsider Is allowed on
their grounds. On either side of the path there was
dense forest growth. IN which dozen ambuscades
could be laid. and which explained to me why the
attscks on nat the Maroon Stronghold Near the town
itself is a broad roadway, very steep and covered
mighty uncertain. But the small mountain pony
never stumbled. and by noon We were on the
their mountain home.
RIGHT on THE EDGE OF AN OLD VOLCANO.
The town consists of some 200 huts built OF bam-
boo and plastered within and without and matched
with palm-leaves. The floors are Of hard clay and
are a marvel OF cleanliness. The town is built on
the edges of extinct volcano. and in the centre 10
small lake that gives these people their water;
they have regular military organlz zl 2 ana
when visited them their chief was Colonel Forster;
Old negro. who had been in many hsnt agains.
the white man. but did not seem to nave the least
animOsity against him when saw MN ana was MS
guest / was given comfortable little hut for my
own use and there was no lack OF hospitality
Il forgot to say that these men have built sub
stantial schoolhouse. which is also used as chapel
and on every other sunday the pastor or MS as,
sistan from Shiloh, the nearest parish rides up 10
hold service. and Maroon is the schoolmaster
THE OLD cows HORN.
Like sensible men living in the tropics. these
men take a sesta after the midday meal and II
was nearly o'clock when the tall Major came 10
,ook me up. Would | like muster OF the
men? or course | would. We ratified over the mar
row path to the parade ground, and then an osd
Maroon came out from a hut and blew some pierre
ing calls on an old cows horn. This curlos-
ity l was told II was as OLD as tac coIonSi w
silk ribbons with strange symbols hung from H. ana
1t incrusted with human blood. Inc car rams
through all the adjacent hills and valleys ana WIN.
in little more than half an hour neary 80 men OF
all ages and sizes had fallen In on the parade,
ground each in Their separate coHpa ,t,t any d
defence Their rifles were not OF modern pattern
and herein the Maroons told me they had great
years before swndled them out or their nrearms
II was at the time when the other negroes on the
island rose up in revolt against rne vaan ser
vice in putting down the rebellion.
POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE PRESENT TROUBLE
81 expect the present trouble is a reviva OF some
old question Some overzeaous gnoramus OF an
inland revenue officer has seized OF the mules
and horses OF the Maroons. that these men pay to
have fattened up on the lowlands. and in revenge
they have whisked away the mules and horses OF
the low,anders These men make a living by agri-
culture. breeding small mountain ponies; ana max
ing large quantities OF rope from the hpre OF me
trees and plants that hedge them in on every SIDE
They are great hunters. their chief quarry beng the
4 young Wild hog barbecued over nre
made OF cinnamon wood Is dream even ier
Luculus."