Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-23

Such is nevertheless the case. When
the British captured Jamaica in 1865
they found that the mountains of the
western regions were occupied by
fierce and warlille race of Africans, run
away slaves, called Maroons by the
Spaniards on account of the isolated
independence which they maintained.
These Maroons rendered the English
valuable assistance in driving out the
Spaniards, but refused to submit to
the newcomers. After century of
intermittent war they were conquered,
but not subdued, in 1906, and finally
accepted a permanent peace which
guaranteed them a form of semi-inde
pendence which their descendants still.
enjoy. Thenceforth they were of much
assistance to the English colonists in
suppressing negro instructions; and
although the fierce old warlike spirit
has gradually died out, as lately as 1865
the Maroons did good service in quell-
ing. the rebellion that broke out in ST.
Thomas parish.
The history of the Maroons since the
British occupation is full of romance
that still awaits local Fennimore
Cooper to immortalize in enthralling
fiction. Even the cold phraseology of
history and the official Handbook of
tions of wild romance in connection
with this peculiar people. OF their
origin and early history nothing is now
known, for, as Bryan Edwards says in
his History of the West Indies," the
transactions of the Spaniards during
"A century and half, in the settlement
of Jamaica, have scarcely obtained the
notice of history" But on the other
hand traditions abound among the
people which relate to those earlier
times and have been handed down from
generation to generation. To these a
special, if transient, interest has been
lately attached by the recent outbreak
of the Maroons in claiming, and in
some instances actually occupying by
force, the lands and estates adjoining
their reservations. At the present day
it might well be said that their bark
is worse than their bite" for they have
neither the means nor the numbers,
nor yet the spirit, to do more than to
make some little local trouble.
Owing to the confidence of the public
in the police, backed if necessary by the
military, but small popular excitement
was occasioned by the news of the out
break. As stranger, however, my
personal interest was aroused, and l
made journey into the Maroon region
the parishes of St Elizabeth and Ire
lawny. Acompong. Town, the ancient
capital of the Maroons, is still the seat
of the tribe. 1t is picturesquely situ-
ated among the Mountains. and within
easy reach of the inaccessible region of
the Cockpit country where mere hand
full of men could stand off whole armies
for ever.
The formation of this region is
unique 1t is of white limestone,
sharp, irregular and jagged, with but
little Garth anywhere to cover its wild
a1esolation- 1t is formed into series
of circular arenas like inverted cones
with extremely irregular sides, but
preserving the circular formation
throughout. and terminating in most
Instances with a sink-hole at the apex
leading down to the cavernous bowels
of the island. These arenas are of all
sdiameters, varying in some instances
from so to 100 feet. The cones unite in
ridges which are very irregular and
sharp and which afford the only foot
holds for making ones way through the
region Of course on either side precip-
itous steps slope down. and a fall
from the perilous foot-way means
certain death. Such country is nee
essariiy inaccessible to anyone but the
most practiced mountaineer.
The Maroons' own tradition of their
origin is that in the early days of the
Spanish occupation runaway slave.