Hither the runaway negroes repair, and form
settlements from whence they issue to annoy the colonists, as occasion may
offer.
In 1801 the runaway slaves had increased to an alarming extent. The
Governor gave orders that an expedition should be immediately organised and
proceed to the woods under the command of Charles Edmonstone, Esq. General
Hislop sent him a corporal, a sergeant and eleven men, and he was joined by
a part of the colonial militia and by sixty Indians. With this force Mr.
Edmonstone entered the forest and proceeded in a direction towards Mahaica.
He marched for eight days through swamps and over places obstructed by
fallen trees and the bush-rope; tormented by myriads of mosquitos, and ever
in fear of treading on the poisonous snakes which can scarcely be
distinguished from the fallen leaves.
At last he reached a wooded sandhill, where the Maroons had entrenched
themselves in great force. Not expecting to come so soon upon them, Mr.
Edmonstone, his faithful man Coffee and two Indian chiefs found themselves
considerably ahead of their own party.
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