"
The Cimaroons being demanded also their opinion (for that they were
experienced in the particularities of all the towns thereabouts, as
in which some or other of them had served), declared that "by Veragua,
Signior PEZORO (some time their master from whom they fled) dwelt; not
in the town for fear of some surprise, but yet not far off from the
town, for his better relief; in a very strong house of stone, where he
had dwelt nineteen years at least, never travelling from home; unless
happily once a year to Cartagena, or Nombre de Dios when the Fleets were
there. He keepeth a hundred slaves at least in the mines, each slave
being bound to bring in daily, clear gain (all charges deducted) three
Pesos of Gold for himself and two for his women (8s. 3d. the Peso),
amounting in the whole, to above 200 pounds sterling each day: so that
he hath heaped a mighty mass of treasure together, which he keepeth
in certain great chests, of two feet deep, three broad, and four long:
being (notwithstanding all his wealth) bad and cruel not only to his
slaves, but unto all men, and therefore never going abroad but with
a guard of five or six men to defend his person from danger, which he
feareth extraordinarily from all creatures.
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