animal, and those who are fond of turtle can have no dislike: to this
dish. The eggs of the eguanna are superior to those of a fowl
or a turtle.
The palmworrow is a caterpillar about a finger’s length, and of the
same thickness; it lives on the sap of the palm tree ; and when
roasted appears in form like a small sausage. The taste is like
that of"delicate marrow, and without any flavour of só many
different sorts of spices^ which Captain Stedman has ascribed to
it; and, therefore, I suppose that either those which he eat, wfere
of another species, or else that the spices were put into them, which
I desired not to be done with mine, as I wished to have the real
taste of them, knowing that the people here season all their dishek
very high.
A broth made of parrots is also esteemed by many, but the flesh
is used no other way, being too coarse.
But it must be observed, that all these dishes are rather served oh
the table for the curiosity of foreigners ; there is, besides, plenty of
venison and other kinds of game.
Some of the European settlers here, who live much in the woods
by hunting, will eat, as the Indians and negroes do, monkeys and
tigers; but the first has much the appearance of a child, particularly
when dressed for a meal, and its great affinity to the human
species in all its organization, excites the disgusting idea, that there
must be some similitude in the taste of the meat, which of course
creates a natural aversion to m,
The most general dishes, on the plantations as well as in
the town, consist of domestic animals. The beef is not so good
as in Europe; but this cannot be entirely attributed to the climate,
as we had some very good upon one of the plantations* Sheep
are not bred here, but those who are fond1 of mutton buy them,
as opportunities occur, from the captains of vessels. Goat’s meat is
here very good and plentiful, since they never have less than three
or four kids at a time. The poultry is most excellent, particularly
the Muscovy ducks, the turkies, and capons. The fivers abound
with fuie fish*, of which the- planters can be supplied when they
please. There are also plenty of land turtles and crabs, and in some
seasons sea turtles are brought to Paramaribo. The oysters which
fasten themselves upon tl^e branches of the mangrove tree at high
water, and remain there when it falls, are small, and not of so good
a tàst'O as those of Europe. The wines most used here are Claret
and Madeira. The dessert consists of a variety of the finest fruits,
which I shall hot particularize in this place, as you have already the
description-of them given by Eermin and Capt. Stedman. But one
remark is necessary: i t 'has often been pretended that the pine
apples which are raised in Europe in hot-houses, are better than in
the country of which they are natives : this is correct only in some
instances, and dépends entirely on the rearing them, to which the
European gardeners are very attentive, while in Surinam the pines
are in general planted as quick-set hedges, with little.regard, whether
the soil is proper for them or not ; and they are often gathered without
considering whether thèy are in a state of perfection or not.
There are three, different species of the pine apple ; one is very
oval, about twelve inches in heighth,and of a yellow colour, but its
taste is extremely watery : a smaller sort of the same colour is of a
better taste: but the third, which is of a reddish colour, is of the
finest flavour-of all, and most likely exceeds the best ever grown in
Europe.
The sapadilla apple is also reckoned one of the most delicious
tropical fruits, ÿet I thought the sweetness rather insipid; but not
long ago I received some from a gentleman’s garden, who is distinguished
here by the excellence of his. fruit. These sapadillas
were far superior to any that I had before tasted : this sort was not
only much larger, but also different in colour:—the others are of
O