e used very
courteously, keeping them diligently guarded form the deadly hatred of
the Cimaroons; who sought daily by all means they could, to get them of
our Captain, that they might cut their throats, to revenge their wrongs
and injuries which the Spanish nation had done them; but our Captain
persuaded them not to touch them, or give them ill countenance, while
they were in his charge; and took order for their safety, not only in
his presence, but also in his absence. For when he had prepared to take
his journey for Panama, by land; he gave ELLIS HIXOM charge of his own
ship and company, and especially of those Spaniards whom he had put into
the great prize, which was hauled ashore to the island, which we termed
Slaughter Island (because so many of our men died there), and used as a
storehouse for ourselves, and a prison for our enemies.

All things thus ordered, our Captain conferring with his company, and
the chiefest of the Cimaroons, what provisions were to be prepared
for this great and long journey, what kind of weapons, what store of
victuals, and what manner of apparel: was especially advised, to carry
as great store of shoes as possible he might, by reason of so many
rivers with stone and gravel as they were to pass. Which, accordingly
providing, prepared his company for that journey, entering it upon
Shrove-Tuesday (3rd February). At what time, there had died twenty-eight
of our men, and a few whole men were left aboard with ELLIS HIXOM to
keep the ship, and attend the sick, and guard the prisoners.

At his departure our Captain gave this Master straight charge, in any
case not to trust any messenger, that should come in his name with any
tokens, unless he brought his handwriting: which he knew could not be
counterfeited by the Cimaroons or Spaniards.

We were in all forty-eight, of which eighteen only were English; the
rest were Cimaroons, which beside their arms, bare every one of them, a
great quantity of victuals and provision, supplying our want of carriage
in so long a march, so that we were not troubled with anything but
our furniture. And because they could not carry enough to suffice us
altogether; therefore (as they promised before) so by the way with their
arrows, they provided for us competent store from time to time.

They have every one of them two sorts of arrows: the one to defend
himself and offend the enemy, the other to kill his victuals. These for
fight are somewhat like the Scottish