a
mmmmm
N AR R A T I V E OF A N
CHAP or curiofity. The colony of Sufift&tttj in Dutch Guictna,.
I. fo far as it is irgiaT^tefl dpd atjqtl |ty J^rop&tris near ,
the fea_coaft, has indeed been known for marfiy year's
^paRb But thfe deep inundations, with the impenetrable '
thicknefs of the wood's, nfye been fuck cqnfiaht dSfcou-
ragements and qbfirudfrons to difcovery, that but very
litSTfa/fnioSnati&i cMu^rnibg Widt dodnfrf hdh;&s fet
been obtained/ except what relates to fuch objects of
commerce as are common to mdifio f the tropical lettle-
ments. This publication, therefore, is chiefly intended
to particularize fuch ekeomftances and events as the ne-'?
ceffity of penetrating ihto .fhe^nitrajr parts of tlie country
have enabled me to make, and forced on my ohfer-
vation. -
The feeling part of* my» readers,,- kmuft hop%wilf£-
ceim-w»At feme indulgence a^wnrkTi^ceediK^ ’from yto
officer» who, from
quiring perfe&ion, e i th e r .a . writer or a p£intqr,':by:,his
military and maritime profeffion. I neverthelcfS humbly
flatter myfelf that whatever may, be„ found ^yanfing, in ,
flyle and elegance, is in fome degree compenfated by that
fidelity and cprreitnefs, which can alorfe be the work, of
a pen and.peqcil employed oh the fpot. With.refpedt
to .a few quaint expreffions, and eyep paths, as fpoken by
&Q. that fpraetimes unavoidably
occur in'" the nafr.&tiye'bf 'fjus ^cihdefftd expedition, I
muft humbly requeft the world not to he fiartled at
them, , not only becaufe the mades o f black and white ,
7 ' ' ' f ™ ‘^nhven
E X P'E D I T iO K T TO SURI NAM. 3
enliven the picture, but pêcdhfe I am determined to CHAP,
write truth'ÓiAjj and expófe -mice' and folly-in their native ,
11! iifn ,
• ; Try* what the 'opèurwhat the'Sov^jt yield
£ i the; giddyAyghts, explore • ,
(ia^,0^talL^ho blindly creep, o t ffigh riefs ’ |o ar: ;
i,' walk*rihciQfcFplIy
Amd^qatch the manners living as they; rife j .
“ Laugh where we mufl^ be candiiwhèrejye can r
**. But vindicate,t-H'e ways‘bf,God to man.”
Pope,
Ï will now boldly lapnch out op the difficult talk.—
'As thëi;nMihe, ho%é¥er, Óf'Thëfë triiifa<^idhstean ènly
^be utt®érfteödlli^ ^ ë te fen ^ t< |^ q ^ o é< ^ ^ ó ,, Much calle
d 1 më^thitrfier, ! 'fefel myietfJ’Under hhe nëcèffity of flill
pfërhlfïfig- a fèW '■wofrls Upoii fuibj«Éit ? '
.rgy-éfy 'p a ft dr the wórld, l$dïëfè' flavery '%
ïdïïabfi-ïliredi ^iatëlé’ -te ^irifiHfëéfröh
And 'dirquifety mbfe ëfpéciaiipwhefé fhè fiives Cohffitute
thé majoritys öf [m inhabitahts-; but the colony of Surinam,
in Dütch;Guiana, thas-bóen peculiarly unfortunate
in this refpeéLJ Whether from thé fhëïtér which is if- ‘
fbrdéd Ito thè fü^itiVèk by the immdnfe forefts which
‘overipread the moft confideratilfe part o f this country, dr
whethfer thé government' o f fhis fiettlemfent be radically
L it is' "h- def tain; iflfdt, that its ^Êttropé&n ■ fëttlérs
B a are