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"In the afternoon . . . [an officer was detached with 30 marines and 50 rangers] to discover . . . how the rebels could pass to and fro through an unfathomable marsh, whilst we were unable to pursue them. This officer at length perceived a land of floating bridge amongst the reeds, made of maurecee-trees. . . .

"On the morning of the 22d, our commander ordered a detachment to cross the bridge and go on discovery . . . And here, to our astonishment, we discovered that the reason of the rebels shouting, singing, and firing, on the night of the 20th, was not only to cover the retreat of their friends, by cutting off the pass, but by their unremitting noise to prevent us from discovering that they were employed, men, women, and children, in preparing warimboes or hampers filled with the finest rice, yams, and cassava, for subsistence during their escape, of which they had only left the chaff and refuse for our contemplation.

"This was certainly such a masterly trait of generalship in a savage people, whom we affected to despise, as would have done honor to any European commander, and has perhaps been seldom equaled by more civilized nations."

- Maroon Societies, Chapter 17 (spellings Americanized)