L E T T E R X IV .
The Climate of Surinam as affecting the Health of Sailors and Soldiers.—
A Proposal for obtaining Recruits who are well inured to the
Climate.—On Captain Stédmans Plan of Reform i(for the Increase of
Population and universal Happiness.”
M y D e a r S i r , . , Paramaribo, March Q(h.
I n my last letter I havé ëndeavoured to shew you, by a number
of facts, how a new-comer in this colony may preserve himself
against the influence of the climate. He must however maintain a
firm command over himself, to be able to regulate' his mode of Iiv*
ing: but the sailors and soldiers merit a distinct consideration;
the former can be better managed, as they are, in general, on
board their vessels, and if not much employed, as they were formerly,
in conveying the colonial produce from the plantations, they are
less exposed to the heat of the sun, and they would be still less so,
if more openings were to be cut through the high and thick cluster
of trees, that stand on the opposite shore of the river, in which
case the air would become sufficiently cool on board the ships.
But as the soldiers cannot be so well looked after as the sailors,
they find too many opportunities of obtaining liquors; and how
pernicious these are to them, may be understood by the destruction
they have occasioned of so many native Indians. And the deleterious
qualities of the new rum are so universally known, as to have
acquired for it the appellation of kill-devil. *
The troops which are sent to the Tropics are often new raised
regiments, and consist mostly of young men* upon whom the influence
of the climate is most dangerous: it might perhaps be
therefore better to send out only such regiments as are composed of
men who are farther, advanced in life; but for the recruiting of these
regiments, it might be very Oseful to establish a military school it»
the colony, not only for the Creoles ofEuropean parents, but even
for the people of colour, who shew considerable address in military
exercises, and are very partial to;a soldier’s life;:These would, no doubt,
bring their-children to the school,'if it could be done’free of expense
to them; and no |ju|t suspicion can be retained against these people,
as they?are strongly attached to the Europeans, and have, always
assisted them against the bush-negroes. The negroes dislike the mu-
lattoes, and as they express their sentiments often in songs, they, have
one to the following purport, “ The white people have a country, the
negroes have also a country, but the mulattoes. jiave none/’ In the
proposed military school, there should 'be some days appointed in
(every week to take the young soldiers inknfehe.woods.to-'exercise
them^jh shooting,; whereby they Would acquire the greatest,
address in marching through all the difficulties of these wildernesses,
and so , be,come, the best defenders of the colony against the
attacks of the bush-negroes, as well as against any other enemy.
If the soldiers of the European regiments that are stationed here,
should likeito see their children brought over, to the colony, at an
age where they risk so. little from the change,offejsimafe, and have
them educated, in the military school, were J to.done% by government,
the expense, including the school, would not;he--so great as
that attending the constantly sending over new regiments f besides
the advantage which would hence accrue in saving so many Valuable
lites, which are now lost by coming over at an improper age
and if Some portions of land were given to those*-soMi^rs educated
in this military seminary, who conducted themselves Well, if would
be an inducement to many of the poorer class of; Europeans, to
have their children sent over, with thanks to the -government who
provided so well for them.