thinking this country possesses interesting prospects, though I should
fail in my endeavour .to represent them' to you, in language adequate
to their merits.
In your very kind letter you-say my friends suppose that I havie
chosen my residence here, in a very healthy and a most pleasant
situation : this is in reality the case, though it was with some difficulty
that I copld get a ' lodging in that) district of Paramaribo,
twhich is ,the .best situated ; however, in respect to this, I have reason
at .present to be much satisfied. Tamarind-street, in whieh I
live, is the widest in all Paramaribo,'and by many inhabitants is
considered as the most handsonfte of all in the town. In the middle
hs a spacious canal, which is kept pure by the flooding tides, and
.capable of containing boats of a considerable size : hem the Indians
-often pass in; their canoes,, exhibiting many-curious articles for sate;
at other times negroes in large fishinfghoats are rowing: up# bating
caught a .manatee .(sea-cow) or a number of different specidsof fish.
.The.space between the canal and the liouses.is: sufficiently, wide on
.each side for three carriagesT-o pass abreast ; on both the banks is.a
row of high shady tamarind [ trees,. and immediately in fihntof the
houses a row of orange trees. My house, though not large, is .sufficiently.
Convenient ; it is one story high, has two rooms and a cabinet
on the .ground floor, a bed-chamber up stairs-; and the kitchen is
in a separate building, which is here a general custom ; my landlady
possesses besides;three other housesfand all fronting! the streetj'con-
mected by a large .court, a part-.0f whic.h5is planted with the finest
tropical fruit trëesi and the other part .enlivened by: a numbeupfall
.sorts ojf Indian poultry, Iq this situation le an enjoy the society of the
;town, and still morq that of rural life, which is so beneficial to my-
•health with fbp rising of the sun, which; is here about six o’clock, I
am awakened by the delightful notes of the Goda bird, a pair of which
nesfle under my roof. This little bird, which from the harmony of its
iSongi as well as from, its general figure, though less iû size, may
be styled a nightingale, is of a most tame disposition, coming frequently
into the houses, perching. upon the window shutters, and.
without any feat contimiing.to« chant, its sweet notes.. My rooms are
always refreshed with the,breezes from the canal, and the. cooling
shade of the trees*. When, in the morning I leave this pleasant situation
tof take a distant walk, it is in general to the. S^ciefy-ground;
leaving the town on. my rjght, and passing through different alleys
of orange trees, I soon get into the road^wbere he the principal
pleasure grounds of the more wealthy inhabitants..pf Paramaribo.
These gardens abound with the finest fruit trees, and the walks and
grounds are( allhept in the best order, but the dwelling houses ad-
W W f lf lfH fTfflfc afe built tqo uniformly to please
t^p«^P|§f|w^ever, many of those which hayp been latelyhpjJt» display
a better taste. Through a considerable, district laid out in this
manner, ,a s p a c i o u s l e a d ^ tp the rivey, Surinam, where thq
seen^y,is.greatly animated,k.by the.numerous vessejs and pleasure
boa^ whiqh are.continually passing and,repassing.; On my return I
go. tkreugh,\the, tbwp, yMbng spite qf my acquaintances, and ip
general return.borne .before the s.UB .beceiqes moye. pow^fhul, that
i^ ahqut teprefclqckv g
-..Tlje public walk, which im the hottestthpe of the day might
become a place..of .refreshment, is,,.very. little frequented^-.its
situation,is between the .Government house and Fort Zealand, and
it QQiqmanfls PP interesting p^pgj^obbjrer^a fipe, sqp|ge^tbPi|ivey
. Surinam» and the opposite bank, but, the .inhabitants ,of Paramaribo
complain that this, efpster ©f tamarind trees* jyitb theb; ipir
mense ,foliage, imbibes top. much of. the rising vapoupand therapy
prevents a free, circulation of pir. Jfhe ground op which these, trees
stand, remains much longer damp than that whjch is under other
species of tre.es: the tamarind tree has never been found growing
here .wild iswpppsqt| to, hay%been
brought over from the coast of. 4fricq. As a great part of the