London, Published Decr. 1st, 1791, by J. Johnson, St. Paul’s Church Yard.
On the 14th I shot an alligator; but returning from this excursion in a boat, a packet of letters from Colonel [[221]]Fourgeoud being reached me, unfortunately fell overboard into the water, and sank immediately; some officers, however, the next day coming to the Hope, informed me of the principal contents, viz. that Colonel Fourgeoud, being determined once more to scour the woods, had ordered me to send up all my spare men and provisions, as also the Society troops who were now at Oranjebo, the former to Magdenberg, and the latter to the river Pirica; which I performed, retaining only twelve crippled soldiers at the Hope, and as many at Clarenbeek, without either surgeon or medicines; nevertheless, with this small number, I made daily patroles by land and water—they also informed me of the death of ensign Van Halm, and that another ship with sick was ordered shortly to set sail for Holland.
Colonel Fourgeoud, though he himself remained still at Paramaribo, yet continued attentively to command. Thus, on the 23d, he ordered a detachment of one hundred men to reconnoitre from Magdenberg to the Wana Creek and Marawina river; but they returned without any new discoveries.
As I was now likely to be continued at the Hope for some time, I sent for my sheep and poultry, from the estate where I had left them, presenting Mr. Gourly with a ram and a ewe, as being of a breed superior to any in the colony; and I found with joy that my flocks had considerably encreased in numbers.
On the 26th one of my men brought me a snake, [[222]]which he had just killed; it was about four feet long, and not thicker than the barrel of a musket; when perceiving a knob near its middle, larger than my fist, I had the curiosity to cut it open, and an enormous frog made its appearance, perfectly alive and entire, a small spot on the back of its head and neck excepted, which was blue and slimy, as if beginning to putrify. For the sake of experiment, I fastened him with a string to his foot upon a grass-plat near the river for three days; when finding the poor animal hearty and well, I gave him his liberty, with a caution to keep a better look-out for the future.
On the 28th I paid a visit to Thomas Palmer, Esq. late King’s counsellor at Massachusett’s Bay, upon his estate called Fairfield. Here both the master and his slaves were perfectly happy and contented, chiefly owing to Mr. Palmer’s just and equitable administration to all around him; and such were the consequences of his wise government, that few plantations in the West Indies could boast of greater prosperity, either in point of produce or population; while the courtesy and hospitality of the gentleman-like proprietor to strangers, completed his happy character, which shone conspicuously throughout the colony.
Upon my return to the Hope I received a letter from the commander in chief, informing me that Mr. Vinsack with his rangers had killed several rebels, and taken eleven prisoners; but that another party of the rangers had been surprized by the enemy, and several of them shot dead while asleep in their hammocks. [[223]]
During these skirmishes, an instance of presence of mind was exhibited by a rebel negro, I think but seldom equalled:—A ranger having levelled his piece was just going to fire at him, when the man called out, holding up his hand, “What, Sir, do you mean to kill one of your own party?” Which the ranger believing him to be, replied, “God forbid!” and dropping the muzzle of his piece, instantly received a ball through the body from his adversary, which killed him; and who, having thus saved himself, disappeared like a flash of lightning. One of the captive negroes related, that the evening before they were taken, a rebel, who had formerly deserted from Fauconberg was cut to pieces with sabres, by Bonny’s command, as two others had been before we took Gado-Saby.
On the 6th of May it blew a violent hurricane, accompanied with thunder and lightning, so that many trees were torn up by the roots, and most of the houses on the Hope blown down or unroofed; my aerial palace, however, by good fortune, withstood this gale; and upon the 8th, Joanna, with her boy, arriving at this place, I promised myself a scene of happiness equal to that I experienced in 1774; especially as my family, my sheep, and my poultry, were now doubled; besides, I had at this time a beautiful garden, and if I could not with propriety be called a planter, I might at least claim, with some degree of justice, the name of a little farmer.
On the 9th we all dined with Mr. de Graaff, at his beautiful [[224]]plantation Knoppemombo, in Cassawina Creek, where this worthy man had foretold, before the birth of my boy, that both he and his mother should one day be happy and free. Here I saw the following roots and plants, which I have not yet observed.—The tayers, which are the hearts of a farinaceous green shrub, not above two or three feet high, with remarkable large leaves, in the form of a heart, the trunk something resembling that of a banana-tree. This plant being cut down, and with a knife divested of its outer tegument, has the appearance and consistency of a yam or potatoe, but is better eating, having a much finer grain. The tayers are of different kinds; the smallest is preferred, and made use of in the same manner as the above roots. I have here also found a kind of real potatoe, and in large quantities, but they are only used by the negroes, being inferior to the hog-potatoes in Great Britain.