On the 26th I was selected, with a small party, to reconnoitre the old camps at Wana Creek. In the evening [[182]]we returned, half swimming through mud and water, and having literally seen nothing, except some birds and curious trees, which I cannot pass unnoticed. The birds were called the Cromback, the Camawarry, and the Crocro. The first is a kind of large snipe, the size of a woodcock, with a crooked bill. The second is also a water fowl, but three times as large as the first: on account of their swiftness, and disappearing in a moment, I can give but a very imperfect description of them. The Crocro is something less than our ravens, and I believe of the same species, being one of the most voracious birds of the carnivorous tribe; in Guiana it is of a dark blue colour, has a remarkably strong bill and limbs, and croaks excessively loud and disagreeably, especially by night. The trees were what the negroes called the Matakee, and the Markoory. The first is remarkable for its roots, which spread above the ground in such a manner, that they will conceal a score of men from each other; nay so large are they sometimes, that a horseman may ride through between the interstices, and one single piece is sufficient to make a table large enough to hold twelve people.
For a better idea of this wonderful tree, I refer the reader to the annexed plate; where I have placed it upon the opposite shore of the encampment at Jerusalem. In the same plate, he is also presented with a fair-weather view of the camp at Java Creek.
Barlow sculpt.
View of the Camp at the Java Creek.
View of the Encampment at Jerusalem.
London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
The other tree, called the Markoory, is truly formidable [[183]]on account of its poisonous qualities, which are of such a subtle nature, that the very smoke of this wood, when on fire, is fatal to those animals that receive it into their lungs; this is always seen to grow by itself, as it infallibly kills every thing around it, nay even the slaves refuse to cut it down on the plantations, so much are they afraid of touching, or of even coming near to it. The Markoory is low, ugly, and uneven, with very few branches, and a pale verdure. I have been told that some of the Indians render their arrows fatal by dipping the barbs of them in its sap.
On the 27th, another patrole was sent out, but to no better purpose than the first. I have mentioned that my foot was recovered, and so it was, but I had now extracted out of my right arm two dreadful insects, which left behind them very deep ulcers. These are called in Surinam the bush-worms, and are the shape and size of the aurelia of the common butterfly, with a pointed tail and black head. They stuck extremely fast in the flesh, and were extracted with a lancet. They breed naturally in stagnated waters, in marching constantly through which they had attached themselves to my flesh.
My heart now began to sink with accumulated disasters; my mind was agitated and depressed with a constant train of tortures, to which I could see no end, and I became weary of life. In this dreadful situation I fell upon my naked knees, and invoked the malediction of Heaven to fall on me, if I did not separate myself from [[184]]my present commanders and this service, the first honourable opportunity that should offer itself;—how religiously I have persevered in observing this vow, shall be seen in the sequel of these pages, before I take my final farewell of my readers.