Jamaica.

Manawatu Herald, 4 October 1898, Page 2

Jamaica.

Nflws has been received in London bat a rebellion has occurred amongst the Maroons in tbe vicinity of Kingston, tbe. capital of Jamaica. The rebels have seized valuable English property, and the residenttlnng tbe coast fine are seeking re ; <ige nt Kingston. Jamaica, one of be West India inlands, is govrned is a Grown Colony and is one of fch^ orizss of war gained by a Bri i-b force from the Spaniards duriug tbt> Commonwealth. At one time, when j lavery was in force, more than half i million slaves were introduced r rora Africa. The population isthu* vprv mixed as in 1891 there were 14.692 whites with 610,479 black and coloured inhabitant?. The Maroons mentioned in the cable arp •1 community of rnn away slaves, and though slavery has been abolish <'d many years they appear to keep themselves apart from the general population, and have been noted during the English rale as liable to break oat in rebellion. There wn c I «ueh an outbreak in 1831-82, in 1865 during whioh a number of whitep were murdered. Thin was sap pressed by Governor Eyre, and in executing a oolonred member of the legislature, one George W. Gordon, convicted of encouraging the rebel lion he brought a hornets nest about his ears. The Governor was tern* porarily suspended and Commis •uonerfi were appointed to inquire into the charges made against him. They received evidence of the ixtat»nco of widely ppread diseonlent far ing 1865 ; they reported that 489 persons had suffered by martial law ; hat about 1000 dwellings had been burnt; that about 600 (miny women) bad been flogged ; that they considered the punishments inflated excessive, the executions unnecess iriiy frequent, the burning of houses wanton ; and that they Baw no proof •vf Gordon's complicity in the out break, or in an organised conspiracy against government. A " Jamaica Oomm'ttee " was Bet up in England md Governor Eyre wa<? prosecute'! hut the grand jury discharged the bill. Then a man named Phillips sued Eyre for beating and imprisonment during the rebellion, but Eyre Dleaded tbe Act of Indemnity and 'he verdict went for the defendant. This outbreak is therefore nothing o be very much purprised at, and a strong hand is needed for the safety of the whites, noting how few there «c to the coloured rjoou'ation.