an opportunity; and it is added, that though the different casts of the
negroes hold different meetings of their secret order, yet the princi-4
pal rules are much the same in all. .They exdliMtewomen from their
society,;but it is said, that even these haveestahlished among; themselves
an order very much on the same plan. Noyv the'bush negroes
haVe it in theiri power, h y theirfrequent journeys to Paramaribo,
constantly to keep up a'secret oorrespondence and connection with
all the Other negroes in the colonies.
. The number at present of the bush negroes is veCy differentiys
stated ; for in fact, it is impossible to make a just calculation of
them, as they often separate into distinct divisions, and form'new.
villages in|different parts of-the forests. But what ever may be their
numbers, they must in time become the most dangerous enemies to
Surinam, especially^if» even they should make a-common cause
with the plantation negrpessfer the purpose of attaching thé cbldby i
But the inhabitants of {Surinam seem perfectly careless aridiiE^iflferr
en't to their situation in this respect, arid- like those who, cultivate
the fertile crust upon a volcanic; soil, they aVe mot troubled with
the thoughts of the danger till they are suddenly alarmed by the
dreadful eruption.
This insensibility in the people of Surinam is certainly unpardonable,
as they hav&in reality the means of preventing the danger,
by entering into ipanew treaty with the büsh n^roesy offering sto;
furnish; them with Sore articles of provisions than they do at present,
with an express condition that they should keep entirely d e a r
from the cultivated parts of the colony; and declaring, that as they
were now become a separate and free nation, they, should, be
treated as such, and that the commerce with;them must be. earned
on as is customary with their parent statës in; Africa. There
might also be a place in the- forest determined on; where they could
meet at a certain time of thé year, andmeeivé those articles'which
had, been promised them, and where; thèydikewiae-couid bring
what articles they might haveTor sale; and where the mefehants
of the colonf f mfght come to barterwith them; bvit for all
othir kind'of business with' the ‘cOlony,'they should send a commissary^
or consul, appointed to fesideat Paramaribo; and if they
Ventured5 to- cOme'themselves, without a' particular order from
tlie ^oVerhfn'elitV they' sbotdH -be- looked updn as3' spies* and treated
ksr's’iifch; Shoiild they1 riot EkT to. entirely break'dhe connection
with ‘the whil^ people, there ris then- another proposal for them,
as they still preserve the customs of, and- shew an" attachment to,
their ^naiiVe '‘ebutitry^ if ,they !liked t& f’eturn1 thdre-' again, they
shoirlcTfee leht ^vWfol Africa; and in order1 to give them a fauN
trial, (he'y might choose* some among themselves to be sent over
first and inspect tli<^6<?dntry, and if the^ approved; the rest cduld
embark5 to follow t f i emT h e he^roes^ h t Sierra*^iL^one* are'described
ti/feV very happy* and'fome of the- bush nfegroesmight
be sent there also, and if they preferred that1 place,’ they could
bfe' ColiV^yi^d Ihithel-,"and 1 smttiemefnt'provided for- them; theif
wdtiid Atimbe do lftepi6ibn betwee'n them and ttfe while-people/
therefore a free aWcMlb'eral fcorrimerce might be carried osn between-
them. | Supposing that all did ncft like- to return to Africa1, yet -the
colony would1 gain much; if the number of bushnegfoe& was cansi-
d^ably diminished, and thdVesHepiftg them^lves greatly weakened
by the emigrating party; might at last? wish to follow-them.
There is another circumstance,' whi&h* might be turtied* to advantage
in saving the colony. against/the attacks/of 'the1 rdbel
negroes.1; The native Indians wife have-frequently assisted ‘‘the*
colonies of Surinam, and Berbice} when requeued by the inhabit
tants in their war with the bush negroes, have an high opinion of
the talents o f the Europeans, never take the part o f the colonial
negroes, and thoroughly hate the,bush negroes;.but their villages*
i ^ W k $ t e :'Very dfffilfdiminished ;ihftairii^^
cultivate!' part of Surinam, which has been oecasioridd-'by several
contagious diseases^ Now if some gentlemen were appointed, to travel