Chapter XXX: Page 381 (12)

I must here still relate the following singular circumstance: A man-of-war’s boat coming alongside the Hollandia, the officer and crew no sooner entered on board, than one of them, without speaking, ran up aloft, with a knife in his teeth, to cut down the pennant. At this time Lieutenant Colonel Seyburg, presenting a musquet, and swearing he would shoot him out of the rigging, the poor fellow came down by the back-stays like a shot, to our great entertainment; next, having explained to him that both vessels had been put in commission by the Prince of Orange, the amazed lieutenant made a handsome apology, and left the ship.

On the 3d of June, every thing being in readiness, the troops were put on board six lighters, appointed to transport them to Bois-le-Duc, in which town they were next to be compleated, and do the duty as part of the garrison. On leaving the vessels we were once more saluted with nine guns from each; which having returned with three cheers, we set sail for the place above mentioned. As we passed in the lighters through the inland towns, such as Saardam, Haerlem, and Tergow, I thought them truly magnificent, particularly the glass painting in the great church of the latter; but their inhabitants, who crouded about us, from curiosity to see us, appeared but a disgusting assemblage of ill-formed and ill-dressed rabble, so much had my prejudices been changed by living among the Indians and blacks: their eyes seemed to resemble those of a pig; their complexions were like the colour of foul linen; they seemed to have no teeth, and to be covered over with rags and dirt. This prejudice, however, was not against these people only, but against all Europeans in general, when compared to the sparkling eyes, ivory teeth, shining skin, and remarkable cleanliness of those I had left behind me. But the most ludicrous circumstance was, that during all this we never once considered the truly extraordinary figure that we made ourselves, being so much sun-burnt and so pale, that we were nearly the colour of dried parchment, by heat and fatigue; and so thin, that we looked like moving skeletons; to which I may add, that having lived so long in the woods, we had perfectly the appearance of wild people; and I in particular, very deservedly, obtained the characteristic title of le Sauvage Anglois, or the English savage.

In this state we arrived, on the 9th, at the town of Bois-le-Duc, where the troops were finally disembarked.

“Per varios casus, & tot discrimina rerum,
Pervenimus ad Latium.”———
———“Olim meminisse juvabit.”

Thus ended, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary expeditions that was ever undertaken by European troops; and to which only the exploits of the American Buccaneers have any, and even that a very distant, resemblance.

On our arrival I found that Lieutenant Colonel Westerlo, who went sick to Europe, in 1773, was not yet quite recovered. This gentleman now invited me, in company with some others, to dine with him at the public mess; where, while some Dutch officers complained that the soup was smoaky, and the beef was tough, we adventurers declared that we never had tasted a more delicious repast; and at the same time, while they praised the strawberries, cherries, and other European fruits, we thought them very indifferent, and greatly inferior to the avogado-pear, the water-melon, and the pine-apple, to which we had been lately accustomed—which shews that every thing in this world is only good or bad by comparison.

The following day we were introduced, on the parade, to the Lieutenant Governor, General Hardenbrook, and spent the evening at his lady’s card assembly, where I must acknowledge I was charmed with some very sweet faces, fresh as the rose and the lily, while they were no less entertained with our grotesque appearance, though we had now borrowed the assistance of powder and pomatum.

On the 18th the troops were finally cleared with, and paid their remaining arrears, and those who chose it permitted to return to their former regiments. Some of the privates had from thirty to forty pounds to receive, which, sailor-like, having earned it like horses, they spent like asses. Among others, a young fellow of my company, whose late regiment chanced to be quartered in the very same town, hired three post-chaises to carry him the length of one street only, ordering a couple of drunken fiddlers in the first, his knapsack in the second, and placing himself in the third, supported by a brace of the frail sisterhood: he was, however, unfortunately shipwrecked in his course, being run foul of by the major de place, who, having broken the fiddles, and set the ladies adrift, towed the roaring adventurer himself, after a hard tug, to the quarter-guard, where he came to an anchor in the bilboes, till the gale of his dissipation was quite spent, and he had got rid of all his cargo. In a similar manner went most of the money which had been earned with so much danger, hardship, and fatigue.

Now came the time to keep my long-made resolution of bidding a lasting farewell to Colonel Fourgeoud’s regiment; from which, on the 10th day of August, I obtained my free dismission, having requested it, immediately after my debarkation, from the Prince of Orange, who at the same time honoured me with a fresh Captain’s commission in the Honourable General Stuart’s regiment, which I had left in September 1772; while from that date to this very day my full pay had amounted to little more than four hundred and fifty pounds sterling, having regularly been stopped out of this sum ten pounds per annum for the putrid beef, pork, rusk-bread, and hard pease, that so miraculously had kept soul and body together.

Let me not, however, be considered as wishing to cast a reflection on the Dutch nation in general, who indeed omitted nothing for our preservation and encouragement during this long and painful service: a people whose virtues have been for ages as conspicuous as their valour—one man alone was the cause of all our sufferings.

Having now exchanged my blue coat for a scarlet one, bought a very handsome horse, and put Quaco in a brilliant livery, I for the last time entertained my ship-mates, with whom, without exception, I drank an everlasting friendship: then taking my final farewell of them all, I the next morning set out to rejoin the old Scotch regiment, where I was received with the strongest marks of joy and unfeigned friendship by the corps.

Going now to take my leave of Surinam, after all the horrors and cruelties with which I must have hurt both the eye and the heart of the feeling reader, I will close the scene with an emblematical picture of Europe supported by Africa and America, accompanied by an ardent wish that in the friendly manner as they are represented, they may henceforth and to all eternity be the props of each other. I might have included Asia, but this I omitted, as having no connection with the present narrative: we only differ in colour, but are certainly all created by the same Hand. Thus, if it has not pleased fortune to make us equal in rank and authority, let us at least use the superiority we possess with moderation, and not only proffer that happiness which we have to bestow on our equals, but let us extend it with chearfulness to the lowest of our deserving dependants.

On the 25th of August I repaired to the palace of Loo, in Guelderland, where, by the Colonel of the regiment, I was introduced to his Serene Highness the Stadtholder; who not only was pleased to give me a gracious reception, remarking, that by my looks I must have suffered much, but soon after promoted me to the rank of Major in the same Scottish regiment.

As I had now the pleasure also to see a few others of my fellow sufferers recompensed after their hardships, I had reason to think the less of our former troubles; thus, instead of indulging in censure, I found a more solid consolation in the triumph of truth, which was brought to light without my farther interference.

“Magna est veritas & prevalebit.”

On the 24th of September I went to the Hague, where I presented his Serene Highness with eighteen figures in wax, made by myself, for his museum, which were most graciously accepted. They represented the free Indians of Guiana, and negro slaves of Surinam, engaged in different occupations, on an island, supported by a crystal mirror, and ornamented with gold.

I now also, with his own consent, made a present of my faithful black boy, Quaco, to the Countess of Rosendaal, to whose family I was under very great obligations; and who since, on account of his honesty and sober conduct, not only christened him, by the name of Stedman, at my desire, but promoted him to be their butler, with a promise to take care of him as long as he lived; which was particularly grateful to me, being such advantages as I could never have procured for him myself.

Here I cannot omit an anecdote of attachment in this boy:—Having set out by myself on a short journey, I found a crown-piece more than I expected in my purse, and for which I was at a loss to account; till on my return, when I questioned Quaco, he said, “that fearing I might be short of cash, where people seemed so fond of it, he had put his five-shilling piece in my pocket.”—This action was the more generous, not only in the manner it was done, but being at that time the only crown poor Quaco possessed in this world.

About the latter end of October, I was offered by the directors of the settlement to be sent over as a lieutenant governor to the colony of Berbicè, situated next to Surinam. In consequence, I immediately went to Amsterdam, to wait on them, and hear the proposals, in which they indeed offered me a higher salary, and greater advantages, than they had ever offered to any other gentleman in that situation; but I insisted on having either the government if I survived, or a decent pension after a certain number of years at my return; which being out of their power, they said, to grant, I declined accepting of the offer altogether, judging it more prudent to recover my health and vigour in Europe with a Scottish company, than to parch any longer under the Torrid Zone, without a prospect of settling at home with honour and a competent fortune. Nor was it long before I perfectly recovered, and became as stout and healthy as I had ever been in all my life: a happiness of which not one among one hundred of my late ship-mates could boast.

Among others, poor Colonel Fourgeoud did not long enjoy his good fortune; for he was scarcely arrived in Holland, with the remaining few who stayed some time behind us, than his beloved ptisan having failed him, he was one morning found dead in his bed, attended only by a negro, and buried with military honours at the Hague.

Not long after this, expired also in Surinam Fourgeoud’s mortal enemy, the Governor of the colony; which vacancy was most worthily filled up by Colonel Texier, and since by the deserving Mr. Wichers [54].

From this period nothing worth recording occurred till the year 1782, when the Emperor of Germany having retaken the barrier towns from the States of Holland, General Stuart’s regiment was the last that evacuated the city of Namur, and on the same day the Imperial troops marched in to take possession: after which the Emperor ordered, in the year 1783, all the fortifications to be demolished. Soon after this, the Scotch brigade, the privates of which now consisted of all nations, was naturalized by the States of Holland, that is, formed into three Dutch regiments, on account of the war with Great Britain; and this circumstance induced myself and most of the principal officers immediately to resign—as we refused to serve against our King and Country.

Having thus left the Dutch service, on which day, by the Prince of Orange, I was complimented with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, the above gentlemen went to England, where, in consequence of their loyalty, they were taken under his Britannic Majesty’s protection; and, on the 18th of June, eleven of them, of which number I was so happy to make one, were, by General Conway, introduced at St. James’s, where we had the honour to kiss his Majesty’s hand.

On the 27th of the same month, the half-pay was voted for them all by the British House of Commons, according to the rank in which each individual had actually served while abroad [55].—But, that the reader may have some idea of what is meant by the Scotch Brigade, and of what they formerly consisted, I will beg leave to insert the following particulars:

“In 1570 this ancient corps first landed in Holland, as independent companies, commanded by some of the first noblemen in Scotland.

“In the year 1578 their gallant behaviour, together with the English, at the battle of Reminat, near Mechlin, is mentioned particularly by Strada.

“In 1579 Menin was surprised, and the Spanish and Walloon guards taken prisoners by Colonel Balfour, with his regiment alone.

“In 1588, at the memorable blockade of Bergen-op-Zoom by the Prince of Parma, the Scots, under the command of General Balfour and Colonel Scott, made a sortie, and demolished the greatest part of the Spanish lines, by which the enemy were forced to break up the siege, with considerable loss of men and ammunition.

“In 1590, at the siege of Zutphen-Deventer, Nimeguen and Hulst, their bravery is well known.

“In 1593 they shared so much of the glory at the taking of Gertrudenberg, that both General Balfour and his regiment were highly distinguished by Prince Maurice. The general he made governor to command the garrison, instead of his brother Prince Henry; and the regiment he appointed, as the most spirited corps, to defend it.

“In 1599, at the taking of Bommel, the Scots suffered most considerably.

“In 1600 two field officers, eight captains, with above six hundred private men, were left dead on the field, after the famous Battle of the Downs, near Nieuport, where both they and the English behaved with the greatest gallantry; and to the valour of these united bands was attributed the success of the day.

“In 1601, at the siege of Ostend, which lasted three years, and at which was levelled the whole power of Spain, nothing could equal the valour and courage both of the Scotch and English, the first commanded by Generals Balfour and St. Clair, the latter by Lords Willoughby and Vere; who, after a great slaughter of the Spaniards (including all their best officers) forced the assailants to raise the siege, and retreat with great shame and confusion.

“During the government of the three first Princes of Orange, William, Maurice, and Frederick-Henry, the Scotch behaved with so much bravery, honour and reputation, that by the last prince (besides many other marks of distinction which he conferred on them) they were called the bulwarks of the republick.

“The necessary limits of this chapter compel me to omit many memorable services which were rendered by this distinguished body of men to the provinces of Holland; but I cannot overlook the last siege of Bergen-op-Zoom by the French, in 1747; where, while others shamefully ran away, one regiment of Scots in the middle of the town, having twice repulsed the enemy, fought alone till they were nearly cut to pieces, leaving fifteen officers and above five hundred privates on the field.”—Such is the history of the late Scotch brigade in the Dutch service; and such were the outlines of its military character, till the day of its dissolution, in 1783.

I must now draw this narrative to a conclusion, by once more mentioning the name of Joanna, and acquaint the reader, that, alas!——Joanna is no more!!!——

In the month of August 1783, I received the melancholy tidings from Mr. Gourlay (which pierced me to the soul) that on the fatal fifth of November this virtuous young woman departed this life, as some suspected by poison [56], administered by the hand of jealousy and envy, on account of her prosperity, and the marks of distinction which her superior merit had so justly attracted from the respectable part of the colony.

But she is no more!—Reader!—the virtuous Joanna, who so often saved my life, is no more!!!—Her adopted mother, Mrs. Godefroy, who bedewed her beauteous body with tears, ordered it to be interred with every mark of respect, under the grove of orange-trees where she had lived. Her lovely boy was sent to me, with a bill of near two hundred pounds, his private property, by inheritance from his mother.—Soon after which expired both his very faithful guardians.

This CHARMING YOUTH, having made a most commendable progress in his education in Devon, went two West India voyages, with the highest character as a sailor; and during the Spanish troubles served with honour as a midshipman on board his Majesty’s ships Southampton and Lizard, ever ready to engage in any service that the advantage of his king and country called for.—But, Oh!—he also is no more, having since perished at sea off the island of Jamaica.

The effect which the following lines had on the sympathetic and ingenious Mrs. Cowley, could alone induce me to intrude them on the Public.—Let this be my apology——Oh! more than bitter task!!!——

An Elegy ON MY SAILOR.

Loud sounds the tempest!—peals of thunder roar;
Tremendous lightnings flash from shore to shore:
Seas dash the shaking rocks—seas mount the flaming sky,
And elements convuls’d, speak dissolution nigh.
Such scenes as these (while tossing on the waves,
True to his duty still) the manly sailor braves;
Such was my Boy—(whose eyes could never weep
But for his neighbour’s woes) now swallow’d in the deep.

Oh! agonizing pain—pain never felt before—
My manly boy—my John—my Sailor is no more;
Still let me mourn with hope——and God adore:

With hope, to see my sailor once again
Floating on seas of bliss, thro’ th’ azure main:
Till then a short farewell—my lovely boy,
Thy shipmates darling, and thy father’s joy.
Yet one small comfort soothes (while doom’d to part,
Dear gallant youth!) thy parent’s broken heart;
No more thy tender frame, thy blooming age,
Shall be the sport of Ocean’s turb’lent rage:
No more thy olive beauties on the waves
Shall be the scorn of some European slaves;
Whose optics, blind to merit, ne’er could spy
That sterling worth could bloom beneath a western sky.
No more, my dear—no more—(while such were scar’d)
Undaunted shalt thou rock upon the yard;
There, while the silver moon gleam’d thro’ the gale,
With manly skill and courage hand the sail.
When Fame, who scann’d the value of her Tar,
Did make thee shine on board a man-of-war
With honor [57]—while, with equal glory fir’d,
To please a parent, brother, friend, thou e’er aspir’d;
Till Death—relentless Death—none can withstand,
To cut thy cable————gave the LAST COMMAND!!!
Soar now, my angel, to thy Maker’s shrine,
There reap that prize, due to such worth as thine.
Fly, gentle shade—fly to that blest abode,
There view thy mother—and adore thy God:
There, Oh! my Boy!——on that celestial shore,
Oh! may we gladly meet—and part no more!!!

A Parent.

And now farewell, my friends, who have been pleased to peruse this narrative of my distresses with sympathetic sensibility; particularly those whose goodness of heart can forgive my inaccuracies and foibles.—I say, farewell: claiming no other merit whatever throughout these pages, than that of having spoke the simple truth; which, if I wilfully have violated, may these volumes perish, and be forgotten with their author!—But should this treasure, TRUTH, so rarely to be met with, be found in this performance:—

“Let one poor sprig of bays around my head
Bloom while I live; and point me out when dead.”

THE END.

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THE PLATES.

VOL. II.

Plate XLI. View of the Hope and Clarenbeck, in Comewina facing Page 4 —— XLII. The Quato and Sarcawinkee Monkeys 10 —— XLIII. Sprig of the Arnotta or Roucou Tree 20 —— XLIV. The blue and crimson Butterfly, and Palm-tree Worms 22 —— XLV. The Anamoe and green Parrots of Guiana 32 —— XLVI. The Wood Rat, and Crabbo-dago or Grisson 42 —— XLVII. The Dago Fissee, and the Newmara Fish 46 —— XLVIII. The Jaguar and Tiger Cat of Surinam 50 —— XLIX. A Surinam Planter in his Morning Dress 56 —— L. The Mountain Cabbage and Maureecee Tree 68 —— LI. View of Magdenberg and Calays, in Cosaweenica 71 —— LII. Limes, Capsicum, Mammy Apple, &c. 74 —— LIII. A rebel Negro armed, and on his Guard 88 —— LIV. Manner of Bush-fighting, and Gradation of Shades 98 —— LV. March through a Swamp in Terra Firma 104 —— LVI. Plan of the principal Field of Action 126 —— LVII. The Murine Oppossum and Vampier Bat 142 —— LVIII. The Agouti and spotted Cavey 152 —— LIX. The Hippopotamus and Manati of Guiana, 176 —— LX. The Camp at Java Creek, and Encampment at Jerusalem 182 —— LXI. Indian Female of the Arrowauka Nation 190 —— LXII. Green Butterfly and Rattle Snake, &c. 196 —— LXIII. Sprig of the Cacao Tree 208 —— LXIV. Musk and Water Melons, and Pine Apple 214 —— LXV. The Humming Bird, with its Nest, &c. 220 —— LXVI. Manner of catching Fish by the Spring Hook, &c. 228 —— LXVII. The yellow Woodpecker, &c. 234 —— LXVIII. A Family of Loango Negroes 280 —— LXIX. Musical Instruments of the African Negroes 286 —— LXX. View of the Jews Savannah, and Mount Blue Bergh 292 —— LXXI. Execution of breaking on the Rack 296 —— LXXII. Sprig of the Indigo Plant 304 —— LXXIII. Manner of sleeping in the Woods—the Cottage 324 —— LXXIV. The Tamandua and Coati Mondi 328 —— LXXV. The Spoonbill and Crane of Guiana 343 —— LXXVI. The celebrated Graman Quacy 348 —— LXXVII. Sprig of the Coffee Tree 353 —— LXXVIII. Plan of a regular Coffee Plantation 354 —— LXXIX. The Shark and Remora fish 384 —— LXXX. Europe, supported by Africa and America 394

ERRATA.

VOL. II.

Page 16, line 7, for Tisan, read Ptisan.
28, — 15, — Siliqua-hirsuta, — Siliqua hirsulæ.
31, — 13, — Ajuriicura, — Ajurucura.
51, — 10, — Jaguanetta, — Jaguaretta.
59, — 22, — Godfrey, — Godefroy.
127, — 13, — dele and as was mentioned.
141, — 6, — thighs — feet.
153, — 8, — warrabosena, — warrabocerra.
174, — 12, — de Cabaines, — de Cabanus.
186, — 4, — Beekslied, — Beekvlied.
186, — 10, — Passary, — Passessy.
214, — 19, — Hemmet, — Hamell.
235, — 10, — the back, — the bark.
315, — 4, — Saardan, — Saardam.
319, — 19, — Okeor, — Okero.

NOTES

[1] It is most probable, that Ulloa took the account from Acosta’s History of the West Indies. This is his account, taken from a translation printed in 1604.

“They leap where they list, winding their tails about a branch to shake it, when they will leap farther than they can at once; they use a pretty device, tying themselves by the tails one of another, and by this means make as it were a chain of many, then do they launch themselves forth.”

Acosta does not say he saw this himself; but to the following he professes he was an eye-witness. These are his words—“I saw one in Carthagene, in the governor’s house, so taught, as the things he did seemed incredible. They sent him to the tavern for wine, putting the pot in one hand and the money in the other; they could not possibly get the money out of his hand before he had his pot full of wine. If any children met him in the street, and threw stones at him, he would set his pot down and cast stones against the children, till he had assured his way; then would he return to carry home his pot. And, which is more, although he were a good bibber of wine, yet he would never touch it till leave was given him.”

[2] The Dutch edition. Vol. XV.

[3] Without the consent of parents, brothers, and sisters, no respectable slaves are individually sold in Surinam.

[4] I have already mentioned that Joanna was by birth a gentleman’s daughter from Holland; and her mother’s family were most distinguished people on the coast of Africa.

[5] It is a maxim with the rangers to chop off the right hand of every rebel negro they kill, for which they receive twenty-five florins; and for every one they send in alive fifty florins; also for finding a town or village one thousand florins Hollands.

[6] The negroes have a savage custom of mangling and tearing the dead bodies of their enemies; some even devouring part of them with their teeth, like the Caribbee Indians.

[7] This, I apprehend, is the snake which Dr. Bancroft calls the small Labora, and which he mentions as having killed a negro in less than five minutes when he was at Demerara.

[8] By this is meant minute-guns, which are fired on the estates when in danger. These, being regularly answered by the neighbouring plantations, soon alarm the whole river, and bring assistance from every quarter.

[9] In Vol. IV. plate the 83d, by the Count de Buffon, a bat is represented with only three toes on each wing.

[10] By some called the Hippopotamus of South America, which I will describe in a proper place.

[11] See Buffon’s Natural History, Vol. V. page 39.

[12] This was the more surprising, as we were at peace with all the Indians, and scalping was never practised by the negroes.

[13] All sailors, soldiers, and negroes are particularly miserable without tobacco: it keeps up their spirits, they say, and some almost prefer it to bread.

[14] That is, one of the rowers beating the water with his oar at every stroke, in such a manner that it sounds different from the rest, to which the others sing a chorus.

[15] This he absolutely held as the best regimen for health, notwithstanding he had brought three cooks from Europe.

[16] This, at other times, they supply by a shell, a fish-bone, or the tooth of a tiger, &c.

[17] The general traffick carried on between all the Indian nations and the Europeans consists in balsam-capivi, arroco-cerra, oil of carrabba, arnotta, and bees-wax, besides pieces of Brazil and ebony; the roots hiaree and varnillas, canoes, hammocks, slaves, monkies, parrots, and paroquets; for which they receive fire-arms, knives, hatchets, fish-hooks, combs, coral and glass beads, blue cotton, looking-glasses, &c.

[18] I have mentioned before that the Indians are exempt from pain in labour.

[19] This is however extremely uncommon, as a more peaceable people does not exist in the universe.

[20] The New Zealanders call their clubs pato-patoo; which affinity is remarkable, on account of their very great distance.

[21] See a letter to the editors of the New Universal Magazine for October 1787.

[22] How Madam Merian should call this reptile an oviparous viper, surpasses my comprehension.

[23] The King’s demand was negatived by the States of Holland.

[24] Sugar pays about 3 l. per barrel, and coffee about as much per thousand; other commodities in proportion.—N.B. This I insert unauthenticated, thus errors excepted.

[25] There are some years but four, and some ten, &c.

[26] I have said they can make no rum here; neither do they refine sugar.

[27] Mr. Hartzink mentions four horses, but this is a mistake.

[28] Drs. Bancroft and Brooke say, the leaf is light above and dark below, which in my original drawing is quite the reverse.

[29] The above names, with such as Nero, Pluto, Charon, Cerberus, Proserpine, Medusa, &c. are usually given to negro slaves, in exchange for Quacco, Quacy, Quamy, Quamina, Quasiba, Adjuba, &c.

[30] It is to be remarked, that though Europeans look pale under the torrid zone, the native inhabitants have often a freshness peculiarly engaging, particularly mulattoes and quaderoons.

[31] The latter gentleman, in the year 1783, sailed from the Texel to the Molucca islands; where, as commander in chief, he killed the king of Pongue, with his three sons, and 600 men; and dethroned also the king of Salangoo, whose land he captured for the Dutch East-India Company, besides taking 127 pieces of cannon, &c.

[32] See Vol. II. page 69. plate L.

[33] This gentleman a little before his departure shewed me a letter from the unhappy youth Campbell; which, after thanking him for every civility, and acquainting him with his dissolution (which he had felt approach) was signed, “Your’s to eternity, R. C.;” and to his father he had wrote the same.

[34] This is well known to be the case with many other animals, as rabbits, mice, &c. that are perfectly white, to have their eyes blood-coloured.

[35] This tree grows to a considerable height and thickness, very straight, and covered with a strong grey prickly bark. The boughs spread very much, with small digitated leaves. The cotton, which it produces triennally, is neither white nor plentiful, which, makes it little sought after. It bears some resemblance to the British oak, the largest of which it surpasses both in elegance and magnitude.

[36] This creature is from three to five feet long, and perfectly harmless; it has not the least apprehension of being hurt even by man; while the unparalleled brilliancy of its colours may be another inducement for the adoration of the negroes.

[37] See the 58th Psalm, ver. 4, and 5: “They are like the deaf adder, that stoppeth her ear; which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.”—Jerem. chap. viii. ver. 17,—and the Book of Ecclesiastes, chap. x. ver. 11, &c.

[38] It is a well-known fact, that a negro, having been ill-treated by the family in which he lived as a servant, one day took the following desperate revenge:—The master and mistress being from home, he, having locked all the doors, at their return presented himself with their three fine children on the platform on the top of the house. When asked why he did not give admittance, he only answered by throwing an infant baby to the ground: they threatened—he tossed down the brother: they intreated, but to no purpose, the third sharing the same fate, who all lay dead at their parents’ feet—then calling out to them that he was now fully revenged, leaped down himself, and dashed out his own brains amongst the amazed spectators.——Another stabbed the inoffensive husband to be revenged on the guilty wife; declaring, that to kill herself was only temporary, but to lose all that was dear to her must be eternal bitterness, while to himself it was the sweetest satisfaction.

[39] After the most scrupulous enquiry, and even ocular demonstration, I can assert the above as literally true.

[40] We are told Job did the same.

[41] Witness Jas Jackson, the equestrian rider, London, &c.

[42] By a law passed in the council of Jamaica, the punishment of a negro is usually limited to twelve lashes, but never exceeding thirty-nine. In Surinam I have known two hundred inflicted on a female; and was once the unfortunate occasion of seeing it immediately repeated. (See Plate XXXV. Vol. I.)

[43] At Demerary, so late as October, 1789, thirty-two wretches were executed in three days, sixteen of whom suffered in the manner just described, with no less fortitude, and without uttering one single complaint.

[44] The above unhappy people were poisoned by their slaves about six years after this happened.

[45] For minute particulars I cannot do better than refer the curious to Mr. Belknap’s History of New Hampshire; where he describes the insurrection of the American Indians, which are almost perfectly similar to those of the African negroes.

[46] See the above route, and all the others to Gado-Saby, in Plate LVI. where they are by different lines distinctly marked.

[47] The above captain and his crew were since set at liberty, having been ransomed by the Dutch.

[48] Should it be remarked that during this expedition some unchristian-like expressions have escaped, let it be at the same time recollected, that while surgeons and even cooks, though both of little use, had been provided, nothing like a parson was ever seen amongst us, from the day we sailed from the Texel.

[49] See in Chapter XXV. the manner in which I myself discovered a thief.

[50] In 1554, the coffee berry first came to Constantinople from Arabia.—About the middle of the 16th century it was introduced in London; and in 1728, by Sir Nicholas Laws, it was planted in the island of Jamaica.

[51] A Mr. Sheffer, already named, who had served with honour from first to last, on the pay of a private soldier, during this painful expedition.

[52] I should not here omit to mention that in the colony of Surinam all emancipated slaves are under the following restrictions, viz.

They are (if males) bound to help in defending the settlement against all home and foreign enemies.

No emancipated slave, male or female, can ever go to law at all against their former master or mistress.

And finally, if any emancipated slave, male or female, dies in the colony, and leaves behind any possessions whatever, in that case one quarter of the property also goes to his former owners, either male or female.

[53] Joanna, Johnny, and Quaco.

[54] This gentleman having also resigned, I have the pleasure to acquaint my readers, that in the year 1792, that gallant officer, Mr. F. Fredericy (so frequently mentioned in this narrative) and who had some time before re-entered into the service of the Society troops, was appointed Governor of the colony of Surinam.

[55] The above gentlemen, who were looked upon as being the real representatives of his Majesty’s Scotch brigade, had their loyalty further rewarded by the revival of that old and honourable corps in Britain, which was since re-embodied under the command of General Francis Dundas, and sent to garrison Gibraltar.

[56] Her emancipated brother Henry underwent the same melancholy fate.

[57] Since the above lines were written, the last of his commanders, the gallant Captain John Hutt, lost his life in the memorable action, fought under Admiral Lord Howe, against the French, on the 1st of June 1794.—This officer loved my Sailor well; nor was he less esteemed by Captain Richard Keates, from whom he had the honour to receive his first naval education.