To Jamaica and Back (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ...on the authority of Long, the historian of Jamaica. Marrano, the Spanish substantive, is " a hog; " marrano, adjective, is " wild." The Maroons were great hunters of the hog, and we1e thtm-selves as wild as that animal, so either would apply; but it is more probably derived from the Spanish cimarron, wild, unruly; applied to men and beasts. The term cimarron is stated to be still applied in Cuba to fugitive slaves or outlawed negroes hidden in the woods or mountains. " Marooning " was a term which afterwards came to denote the infamous practice of leaving seamen behind on a desert island or "cay," as a punishment. At length, in the year 1733, the administration began to be weary of the ineffectual system so long pursued, by which Cudjoe's party had been greatly augmented. The island at this time had but few regular troops. Some regiments had been sent out from England, and sent back again; the fact being that such troops were not suited for the work required. To have called out the militia would have been injurious to the prosperity of the colony; it was, therefore, thought best that independent companies should be raised, to be commanded by officers chosen for their vigour, activity, and knowledge of the country; the militia being only occasionally called out to assist. A body of Indians from the Mosquito coast were also engaged, who proved of great service in the mountain warfare, and in tracing the haunts of the Maroons. Barracks and advanced fortified posts were also erected wherever deemed requisite. Cudjoe, finding his haunts accessible to the rangers who were stationed at the barracks, and the communication of his foraging parties in the back parts of Clarendon cut off, resolved to change his position, and to seek a situation of greater...