akron, I'm a bit confused as to how exactly the history of slaves fleeing their masters in Brazil in the 1600's, has anything to do with this discussion?

Formative period (1620–1653)
Palmares was the general name given by the Portuguese in Pernambuco and Alagoas to the interior districts behind the settlements on the coast, especially the mountain ranges, because there were many palm trees there. As early as 1602, Portuguese settlers complained to the government that their slaves were running away into this inaccessible region and building mocambos, or small communities. However, the Portuguese were unable to dislodge these communities which were probably small and scattered and so expeditions continued frequently into the interior.