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C H A P,
x u i
U a RR A T I V f O F Æ N ’
g $ a f. The' y*m$ m i cultivated t by^ eutting them in
pieces like potatoes j they are planted a few feet diftant
from eàeh orther, and in,about fix or eight-: months they
arriveràt maturity -5 they are known to he fife for ufe when
the-top or leaved begin to lofe their verdutfeiftill' then
they are of.'a deep gremv: coIoue, and creep ahéÿ' ihe
ground like ivy,' with ligneohs fhoots, The yam is
amongftthe principal food of the Haves throughout the
Weft Indies, and is alone Sufficient to fupply theWarifiof
bread 3' aflb hôhg x:apahfe of preferyation fort almoft a
year, it is often tmnfpofte^ and nfed^pah long
and frequently brought toEogland. • Another fmall root
I found here, known in Suriharnby the name of na&ftfes,
and whichis eaten in the fame manner as, thé yamVhut
is infinitely more delicious i both the one and the other
ferve here for food, as potatoes, carrots, or parfnips do ih
England.
The Tfiaim or Indian corn, whichTiffo faw in this garden,
grows on high perpendicular ftalfe^with long'pale
green leaves ; the grain is of a firming yellow colour,, as
large as marrow-peas, and clofely let together, round ears
that are the fize of the large# European carrot. This
grain is cultivated in great quantities in Surinam ; it is not
only tiled for their poultry and cattle of every fpecies, hut
is alio ground into meal, of which the Creoles make excellent
puddings and cakes, which are of a. npurifhing
quality. With this they fometimes eat the young pods of
the ocro, or althea plants which grows upon' a very fmall
fhrub,
E X P E D I T I O N T O S U R I N A M.
fiirub, with oblong leaves; and: which when boiled, as chap .
Dr. Bancroft expreffes' it, :are of-a mucilaginous, flimy, , XIIJ*
and lubricafcive texture^which ropy or glutinous- quality,
however difguftingf in' appearance, makes .a-very rich
fauce when properly Xeafoned: with Cayenne pepper.
. The .fameievening i that proved fo fatal to the flieep; as
hWas, walking! ^out' with myiguri,f as ufual, I Ihot a bird
called hefeftheffwbaeob; i f is a>Tpecies.of4:he'grey-heron,
it?, bill and iegsfaf a greenilh black, and’Very. long’, the
laft appearing >aa if Jointed ?byf)argd «fcales y>f a hard and
horny: fubftanqe, 'and 'the claws- on each, middle:.toe are
denticulated.. ..This bird,, though:apparently .the fize of a*
common fowl, was fo very light,, that an Englifh houfe-
pigeon would have eafily,;couaterhalanced' it; when
dreffed, we foun d it toi have a fifhy flavour. ,..
j/I have-for fome time! been, happily: filent itipo.fi the
fubjeft of .cruelty; arid forty I am;, at a time, when all appeared
harmonious and peaceable, .to he. under -the ne-
ceflity of relating: fpmeifaftances, which I am, confident
muft -infpire the, mott unfeeling reader: with) horror and
refentment. The firft obje^which attradlCd my companion
dugihg- a vifitito a> neighbouring ceftate,; was a
beautiful Samboe girl of aboufeighteen,.tied up by. both
arms to a tree, as naked as flip came into the world, and;
lacerated in fupha Shocking manner bytthe ,whips-cf two-
negro-driyers, that flie'was from her neck. to.her^ ancles,
literally- dyed oyer with blood. It /was. after Ihe had • received
two hundred laffies that I perceived her,; withher
lieadi