[. M ]
into the nn>re interior parts of the country, taking with them those
articles which are most esteemed bythe Indians, though of little
value in themselves; and when they arrived at the villages of the
Arrawoukes, who are the most useful among.the Indian tribes, or
at those of other tribes who shew a good disposition* to offer them
presents, and assure them that these should be .continued yearly, if
they would come and settle in the vicinity of the cultivated part of
the colony, or if they would reside there at least the greatest part
of the year, and keep themselves always in readiness to assist the
colonies, when obliged to take up arms against the rebellious
negroes. The Indians, particularly when they are assisted' by the
Europeans, become very useful against the bush negroes; as they
carry on the war in the same manner as the negroes do, anfj have
a perfect knowledge of the different situations,of the country, and
the recesses of the woods. These valuable allies, would be ac?
quired at a very trifling expense to the colony. Thoiigh I have
often seen the Indians when they came to Paramaribo, yet I have
only once been at an Indian: village. We were now arrived at a
creek, where there were several settlements of Indians; in rowing
up the rivulet, which was greatly shaded by large over hanging
branches, of trees, we soon arrived at the village. An Indian house
is soon built; it consists of four forked poles driven into the
ground, perpendicularly, forming a large square, and framed
by four poles of a less thickness, lying horizontally on the erect
ones; bn these are placed other slanting poles, which form the TOof,
and are generally covered with trury leaves * which are sometimes
more than twenty feet long and about six or eight inches wide, of a
strong texture, and will last without rotting a long time. The furniture
of these houses is agreeable to the simplicity of the building;
large pots of earth, which are made Jby the women, in which they
keep their drink ibr coolness; some other pots for cookery; a few
* See the Appendix.
T 8 < n -
calabasses to serve as plates r a packall, or a neat basket made with
a cover, plaited so tight that no rain can penetrate it; and a hammock
which serves them at day for a sofa, and at night for a bed.
Those who carry on a trade with the Europeans, have in general a
small looking glass added to their furniture.
There were many Indians in this village; but they had just returned
from the woods, and were resting; on their hammocks. A
little Indian dog which I saw here, and very much resembled an
Italian greyhound; I wished to purchase, and the owner asked, me
teii guilders; but when I was going t© pay him the money, his wife
refused to deliver up the dog, and the Indian receded from the
bargain. I had another tiMp an opportunity ofwi tnessirig the attachment
of the Indian^ to their wives and children ; -although this virtue
has been denied them by many authors. On my first journey to
the river Saramacca, which was with Mr. I. G. we dined with Mr.
Euekert, who- has a plantation on this river; an Indian ..family
arrived tfheltf in a boat, and the Indian offered us’several parrots to
•sbll^w-henl asked him if he had not any other animals to dispose
>;i another Indian who lives on the plantation, and who acts here
as a Mints than, became our interpreter, and said- there was a
shiall» sapajou^ in th® boat? with the Indian family; but that they
would riot sell it. Being a wet day . the boat was covered with large
banana leaves, under which the family had sheltered themselves;,
but as I wished to-kuow if this was a .hew species, I requested
Mr. Ruekert; who well knew the Indian, to make him understand
that I did not want to.have the aniriial, but only wished to see it; but
this the man repeatedly refused. At last, after much importunity
on the part of Mr. E. he went to the boat; and sometime after returned,
leading by the hand* his daughter, who might be about fourteen
years of age. Her head was held down, the little sapajou
being about her neck, and by the other hand she was led by her
Appendix.