wide; the youngest of these Indians was putting upon a string different
coloured beads; and gave them to the eldest as an ornament’
for the apron, which was so very small that it might well bear the.
celebrated device of the garter, « Honi soit qui mal y pense !” The
good old matrons seemed greatly alarmed at our approach, pro-.
bably, ntióre particularly, as their consorts were absent ; therefore,
to quiet their apprehensions, we immediately took our leave of
them.
The military road which separates the cultivated part o f the colony
from the forests, and has regular stations or posts at certain
distances, as guards against the bush negroes, leads by the Jews’
Savannah, which is protected by one of the posts, this place having
formerly“ suffered much by the inclusions of these negroes, as well
as many other plantations of the Jews, to whom the rebellîoilS he-,
groes bore a particular, hatred, and exercised towards them great
cruelty. Here is likewise a fine well of clear water, which has a slight
mineral taste. The Jews* Savannah is the first considerable rising
ground in going up the river from Paramaribo, and consists of a
chain of high sand hills, and the situation of the village1 is considered
very healthy. ’ We went from hence in the evening to thé
Plantation de Scpnzo. '
May 3.—We visited Toledo, a sugar plantation, the mill of which;
it is said, when worked by four mules,makes as much sugar as others
will do'that require eight mules. It was moFtifying to us n ot t o
find Mr. O. the owner of this plantation, at home; and we formed
the greater opinion of him from thé friendly reception which we experienced
tin the part of,his domestics, whose conduct, in général,
may be considered as the rule by which to judge of the manriners
of the master. Thé mill was not quite finished, but we were informed,
that the machinery being made lighter without diminishing the
force of the rollers, gave rise to thé expectation of great saving
of expense in the keep, &c. of mules. This improvement must
bes considered as of great importance, particularly to those who
begin, sugar plantations, and who do not wish to go to the expense
of.building water mills. -
•; The next morning we stopped at la Recon tre, as I had the pleasure
of knowing the owner, who resides in Europe; he had sent
his, son out tov the colony,;to make some useful regulations; he
was a youth of a most amiable disposition, but not being properly
acquainted with: the nature of the, climate, and unwilling to alter
his method of living, saon fell a sacrifice, and died after a short
illness..
; . PAf noon this* day we completed our vpyagp,.and arrived, a t Paramaribo.
I t is but common justice to speak highly of the great hospitality
which we experienced every where during the whole of our
jourpey. Although it cannot interest you to be informed of all
the different delicacies with which we were treated during our
journey, yet as some of these were dishes which .never, enter into an
European bill-of-fare, I shall mention them without any further
apology.- ,
j A joint of boiled or roasted young sea cow tastes well, thpugh it
.is diflicult to describe by any object of resemblance with which you
are acquainted; I t is sufficient to say that it is neither fish nor
flesh.
The tapir,* which is the largest animal of game in this country,
has, when young, a flavour somewhat like veal and pork.
The conny conny,* or the rabbit, and the paca, which is the
hare of Surinam, particularly the latter, are of a most excellent
taste.
A fricasee, or a pie made of an eguanna, is very delicate; This
i s a,lizard about three feet long : its colour is a beautiful light
green : it does not live, like the other lizards, upon insects, but
solely upon flowers and the blossoms of trees ; it i"s a very clean
* See Appendix;