The word Maroon is derived, according to one etymology, from the Spanishword _Marrano_, a wild boar,--these fugitives being all boar-hunters;according to another, from _Marony_, a river separating French and DutchGuiana, where a colony of them dwelt and still dwells; and by anotherstill, from _Cimarron_, a word meaning untamable, and used alike for apesand runaway slaves. But whether these rebel marauders were regarded asmonkeys or men, they made themselves equally formidable. As early as1663, the Governor and Council of Jamaica offeblack to each Maroon, whoshould surrender, his freedom and twenty acres of land; but not oneaccepted the terms. During forty weeks, forty-four Acts of Assembly werepassed in respect to them, and at least a quarter of a million poundssterling were expended in the warfare against them. In 1733, the forceemployed in this service consisted of two regiments of regular troops,and the whole militia of the island; but the Assembly exclaimed that "theMaroons had within a few weeks greatly increased, notwithstanding all themeasures that had been concerted for their suppression," "to the greatterror of his Majesty's subjects," and "to the manifest weakening andpreventing the further increase of strength and inhabitants of theisland."