Now Captains Van Geurick and Fredericy, with Serjeant Fowler, were sent on an embassy to the Owca and Sarameca free negroes, if possible to procure their assistance against the rebels, which they always continued to promise (while Colonel Fourgeoud gave them presents) but never yet performed. A few of the other officers still stayed with us gallanting at Paramaribo, amongst whom were Major Medler and Captain Hamell[18], who had both been with General Desalve’s regiment, in the colony Berbicè, and previous to that the first was in the Prussian service. It was no small change of appearance [[215]]for us, who had so little a time before appeared like wild men, now to strut through Paramaribo, dressed like so many French marquees.
A. Smith Sculpt.
The Musk-Melon, Water-Melon & Pine-Apple.
London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
Being a particular favourite of Governor Nepveu, I one day was induced to ask him for a piece of uncultivated forest ground; when he readily granted me 400 acres: but when I inconsiderately asked it of him, I had not calculated how large a capital it required to clear away woods, purchase negroes, and provide other necessaries for such an undertaking; and when a little reflection convinced me how difficult it would be to find a partner of abilities to assist me, I declined accepting this mark of the governor’s regard.
Having on the 26th once more saved a poor black girl from receiving some hundred lashes, by replacing a dozen of china, which she had broken by accident; while another was stabbed by a Frenchman, who immediately cut his own throat from remorse, and his companion, an overseer, hanged himself; and having visited the poor negro whose leg had lately been cut off by law, I packed my boxes to set out next morning on my sixth campaign; and once more take the command of the River Comewina: at which moment arrived at my lodgings six loaded negro slaves with presents from my hospitable friends, of every kind that Guiana could produce, and the colony of Surinam could afford me. [[216]]
[1] 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. [↑]
[2] This he absolutely held as the best regimen for health, notwithstanding he had brought three cooks from Europe. [↑]