The sweet engagements of the feeling heart.”
The day after our arrival in this station, we received the particulars of the Pirica news, which were, that on the 20th the estates Schoonhove and Altona had been pillaged by the rebels whom we had routed at Gado-Saby, but that at the plantation Poelwyk they had been beaten back by the slaves: that the rangers stationed at an estate called Hagenbos had pursued them on the 21st, overtaken them on the 23d, killed several, and brought back most of the booty: that on the same day another party of the rebels had made an attempt to seize the powder magazine at Hagenbos (which was no bad plan) but that (while the rangers were in pursuit of their associates) they had been repulsed by the manly behaviour of a few armed slaves, one of whom, belonging to the estate Timotibo, took an armed rebel himself, and next discovered their camp at the back of his master’s plantations; for which he was handsomely rewarded. From all which intelligence, there was now no doubt remaining that if Seyburg’s detached party on the 16th had marched [[156]]forwards instead of backwards, by his orders, the above mischief might have been prevented, and the enterprize of the rebels entirely frustrated. It was also evident from this narrative, that the man whom we fired at on the 21st was certainly one of the plunderers on the 20th, and that the bodies found dead on the 23d had been shot the very same day.
On the 29th, among other fruits, some dates were sent to me by a Society officer. This tree is also of the Palmeto species, but not extremely high; its leaves diverge from its summit, very thick, hanging down in the form of an umbrella. The dates appear in large clusters, being an oblong thin fruit like a man’s thumb, of a yellow colour, and the pulp, which is fat, firm, and sweet, adheres to a hard greyish-coloured stone, with longitudinal furrows.—I ought not to omit mentioning, that this day sixty rangers going to reconnoitre, discovered the old rebel camp at the back of Timotibo, which seemed to have contained about sixty armed men.
On the morning of the 30th of September, having nothing more to do in the neighbourhood of the Pirica River, we left it, and on the 1st of October came to Devil’s Harwar much fatigued, nothing remarkable having happened on our march. I had written on the preceding day to Colonel Fourgeoud, informing him, that I was weary of existence in my present state, and requesting that a court-martial might be immediately called; and this letter I had sent by a slave to the commander in chief. [[157]]On our arrival at this station, I indeed found every hard means employed to bring me to terms; and such was the severe usage I experienced, that one of the rangers, called Captain Quaci, exclaimed, “If in this manner these Europeans treat one another, is it to be wondered at that they should take a pleasure in torturing us poor Africans?”
At Devil’s Harwar, however, my stormy voyage drew to a conclusion. Colonel Seyburg was evidently convinced that he was wrong, and knowing what must follow, now only wished for a handsome opportunity of extricating himself from the effects of his unmanly passion. On the 2d of October, therefore, he asked me with a smile, “If I had a heart to forget and forgive?” To which I sternly answered, “No!”—He repeated the question.—I then said, “I venerated truth, and would never confess myself in an error, unless my heart coincided in the acknowledgment—that this was a concession I would make to no man living, and least of all to him.”—He here grasped my hand, begged me to be pacified, and declared, “That he would make peace on any terms;”—but I again drew back with contempt, and decidedly avowed, “That I could not agree to any compromise, unless he owned his fault in the presence of all the officers, with his own hands tearing from his journal every sentence that could reflect upon my character.” The journals were immediately produced, my arms were returned me, and my triumph was attended with every [[158]]circumstance that could add to my full satisfaction. I then, frankly and sincerely gave my hand to Colonel Seyburg, who gave a feast in honour of our reconciliation; and after dinner, to my utter surprize, produced the letter which I had written to Colonel Fourgeoud, which he acknowledged he had intercepted to prevent the affair proceeding to extremities: at the same time he acquainted me, that Fourgeoud was encamped at the Wana Creek, instead of Lieutenant Colonel de Borgnes, who had fallen sick, and was gone to Paramaribo. A perfect reconciliation having taken place, and every thing being now adjusted, while the troops having had some rest, we set out once more on the 4th for the head quarters at Jerusalem; but I was obliged to leave poor Quaco, who was very ill, at Devil’s Harwar, under care of the surgeon; and that evening we encamped opposite the mouth of the Cormoetibo Creek.
On the following morning early, having crossed the River Cottica, the troops marched back to Jerusalem; where I now had leisure to reflect on the various evils which befal poor mortals, as well those who are innocent of the difficulties they are brought into, as those (which are the greater part) who have brought themselves into distress and even despair by their own indiscretions. These reflections arose from finding here, among others, a newly-arrived acquaintance, a Mr. P—t—r, who having squandered away in Europe above thirty thousand pounds, and lost a beautiful wife by elopement, was now [[159]]reduced to the income of an ensign in the Society troops. This gentleman having formerly possessed considerable property in this very colony, his present situation could not but be assuredly the more galling on that account.—Alas! unhappy young fellow: well might you exclaim—
“Privé de tout mes biens,
Dans un climat funeste,
Je t’adore & te perds,
Le poignard seul me reste.