c H a P. this devaftation was to feed a blind ferpent under ground:
, XXII‘ , hut the truth is, that it ferves for nourifhment to their
young brood, who cannot help themfelves, and are fome-
times lodged to the depth o f eight feet in the earth.
Madam Merian fays, they form themfelves in chains from
one branch to another, while all the others pafs óver
thefe temporary bridges; and that once a year thefe formidable
armies travel from houfe to houfe, killing all the
vermin, &c. that comes in their way; neither o f which
fa£ts ever came within the limits o f my obfervation : but
that they can bite confoundedly I havêlfound by experience,
though their attack is not nearly fo painful as the
bite o f that diminutive infedt the fire-ant already de-
fcribed.
The following day we proceeded along the banks of the
river Cottica, till we came near the Claas Creek, (where
I formerly fwam acrofs with ray fabre in my teeth) and
early flung our hammocks; from whence 1 was detached,
with a few rangers, to lay in ambufcade in the mouth of
the creek till it was dark. Here, however, I difcovered
nothing, except that the rangers were poflefled o f the
fame fuperftition as the rebels, with regard to' their amulets
or obias making them invulnerable. They told me
that the latter mentioned procured them from their prieft,
and that they themfelves bought theirs from Graman
$3pacy, a celebrated and cunning old negro, whom T fliall
in a proper place circumftantially defcribe. — When I
afked them, How came any of you, or o f your invul-
JÈ nerable
“ nerable adverfaries, to be fliot ?” I was anfwered,“ Be- ch a p .
“ caufe, like you, Maflera, they had no faith in the amu- . XXII> .
“ let or obia” This piece o f policy in Mr. Qwacy, however,
had the effedt o f making all his free countrymen fo
undauntedly brave, that I muft cbnfefs their valour had
often furprized me. However, this impofition, as lhall
be fhewh hereafter, befides refpedt and veneration, procured
this dealer in magic confiderable both eafe and
wealth, which for a black man in Surinam was indeed
not very common.
.In the mouth o f this creek I again faw a quantity o f
nuts floating on the furface o f the water, fuch as I have
before mentioned, when I was informed that they were
the real acajow or cajbew nuts, which I have partly de-
fcribed: to which I fhall how add, that they grow on the
edge o f a pulpy fubftance like a very large pear, which is
produced on a middle-fized tree, with a grey bark and
large thick leaves. This excellent nut will bear to be tranf*
ported to any part o f the globe, and keep good for a confiderable
time; it is by fomtf called the Anacardiwn Occidental's.
From the tree exudes a tranlparent gum, which
when difiolved in water has the confiftency o f glue;
I alfo tafted here the eta-tree apple, o f which the
negroes feemed extremely fond.j This tree is o f the
palm kind, with large leaves, but is lefs in fiZe than the
maurecee. or the mountain- cabbage-tree. The fruit or
apples are round, and grow in large clufters refembling
grape-ftiot. In the middle o f each apple is a hard aht, in
T 2 which |J