34*]

foon became far fuperior in power and number to the tmtives, who melted away inlienlibly as the firangers increaled.

In this llatc the Cnribbs conti- nued for fome time, until the French from the neighbouring illrznds inlinuated themfelves a- mong them, being tempted by the excellence of the loil, and the cheap purchalcs which they made of it, for brandy, and the trifling necellaries that were wanted by the favages; and by degrees got fuch footing as to become pofliefled of all the fertile vallies that interfeét the mountains on the leeward fide of the iiland, and to bring them into a {late ofcultivation.

Though the French and the Ca- ribbs ofboth colours, lived in gene- ral together upon very good terms, and the latter, in procefs of time, adopted the religion, and ac- quired the language of the former; yet the neighbourhood ‘of cultiva- tion and villages, was as little [nit- ed to the convenience and necelli- ties of a people, who (ubfilied prin- cipally by hunting and filhing, as it was to their genius. Mankind, in any llage near that of nature, fhun cro-wds, and love retirement; flil! w-ifiiing to live free and unre- flrained in their ailions, without obfertration 0r interference. The Caribbs accordingly totally aban_ cloned their ancient polfeffions, and retired to the windward, and level fide of the ifland. lt howeyer ap- pears, though we are tininrornted as to the time and particulars, that an attempt was once made by tlte French to enllave thefe people; and that the Cariobs defended their liberty lo lioutly, that the French tvcre not only glad to renounce the ielign, but were -.obiiged to a4;-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1773.

knowledge them as a free and in- dependent people.

i Notwithftanding this migration and attempt, a friendly intercourlie and correipondence was in general continued, and the, French not only feem to have paid a proper atten- tion to their difpolitions and man- ners, but to have applied them- felves alliduoufly to the gaining of their friendlhip and afieftioti; while the Caribbs obtained a power of fummary jullice in their own hands, by burning the houfes and plantations of thofe from whom they had received any injury. ‘ It is probable that tiiefe excefies were not often committed; and it does not appear, that the French ever conlidered them as fuflicient grounds for a general quarrel, or

revenged them as public iniuries.’

During this llate or“ alFait-s, and until the late treaty of peace, the French King, upon every occafion, treated the Caribbs with fome dif- tinétion, and feemed to confider

them as proprietors of the illand. ‘ By that treaty, the ifland of St. Vincent was ceded to Great-Bri- tain, without any notice being takenof the Caribbs. It was then fuppoiied to contain between four and five thoufand French inhabi- tants, and the Caribbs to amount to upwards of a thouland fighting men. As this illand was one of thofe which had been declared neutral, and the French fettlements on it were infraélions of former treaties between the two nations, they were puffed over in the pre- fent, without the (mallet? mention, as if none {uch were in exillence, Commiliioners were appointed for the {ale of the profitable lands in thofe illands; but the French fet- tlers were permitted to hold their ilormeu"