THE MAROONS

The original Maroons were the freed or runaway Spanish Negro slaves (more details) The name Maroon probably derived from the Spanish cimarron meaning "wild", "untamed" but the word seems to have been in general use during the 18th century:
the following quote comes from R.L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island",
"Three years!" I cried. Were you shipwrecked?"
"Nay, mate, " said he -"marooned."
I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot, and left behind on some desolate and distant island.

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