They made it known to their wives, and directed
them to tie their hamaca about their shoulders, and under their arm,
like a scarf, and to lead their children that could go, and carry
those that could not. The wives, who pay an entire obedience to
their husbands, obeyed, and staid for 'em where they were appointed:
The men staid but to furnish themselves with what defensive arms
they could get; and all met at the rendezvous, where Caesar made a new
encouraging speech to 'em, and led 'em out.
But as they could not march far that night, on Monday early, when
the overseers went to call 'em all together to go to work, they were
extremely surprised, to find not one upon the place, but all fled with
what baggage they had. You may imagine this news was not only suddenly
spread all over the plantation, but soon reached the neighboring ones;
and we had by noon about 600 men, they call the militia of the
country, that came to assist us in the pursuit of the fugitives: but
never did one see so comical an army march forth to war. The men of
any fashion would not concern themselves, though it were almost the
common cause; for such revoltings are very ill examples, and have very
fatal consequences oftentimes, in many colonies: but they had
respect for Caesar, and all hands were against the Parhamites (as they
called those of Parham Plantation) because they did not in the first
place love the Lord-Governor; and secondly, they would have it that
Caesar was ill used, and baffled with: and 'tis not impossible but
some of the best in the country was of his council in this flight, and
depriving us of all the slaves; so that they of the better sort
would not meddle in the matter.
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