Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; despair
Tended the sick, busiest from couch to couch.
And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay’d to strike, though oft invok’d
With vows, as their chief good and final hope.”
From day to day mortality now gained ground, while by some accident, to compleat the distress, part of the camp got on fire; but this was fortunately extinguished without any material ill consequences, by the activity and exertions of the poor negroes.
On the 26th my misery, however, drew towards an end, when, to my astonishment, and without my asking it, Colonel Fourgeoud gave me a leave of absence, if I chose it, to accompany him, and stay henceforth at Paramaribo; which, without hesitation, I most joyfully accepted. Thus, having made my friend Captain Small a present of my house, my Ranelagh, and all my fresh provisions, besides entertained him and some other officers on a dish of mountain-cabbage, and my groe-groe worms, which were just come to perfection, besides a hearty glass of wine, I took my last adieu from them all; and at midnight, with Colonel Fourgeoud, rowed down the River Cottica in an elegant barge with ten oars, in company with two more of his officers.—And now farewell once more, ye shady [[341]]woods, thou pleasing gloomy forest, pregnant with so many wonders, and so many plagues, and which, in the opinion of so many sufferers, even surpassed the ten plagues of Egypt![3]
————“I have sent among you the pestilence after the
manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword—
I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your