be prevented .—The Ground not i favourable for the growth o f Vegetables for the
•Subsistence o f the Negroes.—The Means used as a Substitute.—The Canal o f the
Matopica RiVer;—-an intended Alteration of.its present' Communication with the
Sea.-—Return to Paramaribo by l i e Hoerhelena Creek.—'Great Hospitality of the
Inhabitants o f this Country. - - ? - i ■ page 50
LETTER VIL
Celebration o f the First Day o f the New Year at Paramaribo.—Militia o f the Colony.
—Festivals o f the Negroes.—The Conclusion o f the Day. - . - 61
LETTER VIII.
First Establishment of the Colony o f Surinam.—Difference between the East India
and the West India Commerce.—Acquisition o f this Colony the Dutch!—
Different Changes of Government.—Its First Prosperity.—Stagnation and Decline.
—-Its Present .Government.—Mode o f conveying Letters from Eufope to Suri-
j nam, . - - - — - - - - ' 64
LETTER IX.
Journey to Bluebergh— Canal for a Communication between the Surinam and the
Saramacca.—Plantations on the latter River.— Land cm the Banks o f the River
Surinam.—Method used in this Colony for the recovering exhausted Land.—
Cultivation o f Coffee—o f Sugar—the Cocoa Tree,—Imitation of Chocolate made
from other Kinds'of. Fruits.—Arrival at the Plantation Bluebergh.—SearcE for
Mines.—Treatment o f the Negroes.— Behaviour o f a good Director.—M i H tary Post
Victoria.— Plantation l’Hermitage.-—Visit to the Village of the Bush "Negroes.—
Description o f them.—Invitation to tins People for a Dance at 1’ Herinitkge,—
Method o f dancing.—Musical Instruments.—Conclusion o f the Ball.—Departure
from l’Hermitage.—Return toVictoria and Bluebergh.—Plantation of Ranecour.—A
new Species of Coffee Tree indigenous to South America.—Return tcf Woflsly
i ) Jacob.—Plantation of Aucka, where Peace was concluded with the.Bush Negroes.
—The Origin o f those Negroes at Surinam.—Ravages committed by them in this
Colony.—On the Security o f this Country from these Negroes.—How to mafee’-the
Indians more useful to the Colony.—The Arrawouke Indians.—their Villages—
Houses—Furniture.—Attachment to their Wives and Children.—An improved
Indian House.—General Character o f the Arrawouke Natiofa.—Then "good Dispo-
t sition—Faults.—Capable o f Civilization above other Indians.—-The Village called
Jews Savannah—Description o f this Place—o f the People.—Visit to two Indian
Villages,—two Plantations, Toledo and la Recontre.—Great Hospitality of the
Planters of Surinam.—Return to Paramaribo. - - 71
LETTER X .
OnHhfcM of Surinam.—A new'Attempt to cultivate the Lapd by European E»r
bourers.—The MelhodofcuMvatingit by Negroes.—How' to repder the Labopr to
foem more easy;—RegalatitfHs fdb their Workft^Meals—and- Rest.—Their Provisions
at the Plantations.—Attention paid ahefotVrhe« E re*$?
" Dànces allowed'Item.—Correction.— Newly ariived\ Negroes tinned to- A rips.
Reflection on the severe Execution of the'Negroes.—The increase o f Creole* or
Natives at Surinam.—Preference given them to the Negroes brought from Africa,
and Encouragementto those whp bring up Childreg.— Care o f pregnant. Negroes,
and o f both Sexes when old.—Happiness of the Negroes depends on the Master’s
temper.—Proposal.for-increasing ft. - ’ - , " . " ^
LETTER XL
Customs o f the Inhabitants of Paramaribo.— Their general Occupations. People of
' Colour.—Freé Negfoes.—The Slaves.— Indiansi-^PriUcipal Language spoken in
this Colony. - ” - 1 - ';. - •
LETTER X II . ;
The Climate o f SUnaam,—GsflSMl Opnionrespecting it—-Dexterity of the Indians
^^m'Hunting.—The Wet Season.—Climate of Paramaribo respecting Health.—How
mSSb HjKBHl P “jSHBijS » s ■- ' l i n
to improve it. ■ — . -i ' ' ■
LETTER X III.
On the Effect o f the Climate of'Siïrinam’ on different’Constitutions.—The best Method
to Preserve Life and Health;—Ctmseqnences p|,e,?fràwgant Living and Temperance.—
Instances of Longevity in this Col&sy.— The Climate particularly favourable
to Females.— How the Climate acts on Persons of.diffey-.ent Countries. 126
LETTER XIV.
The Climate o f Surinam^as affecting the Health o f Sailom anti',Soldiers.—A Proposal
for obtaining Recruits who are well itijtred to the Oimkte.—-0n Captain Stedmqn’s
Plan o f Reform “ for the Increase o f Population and uoiveraalH appiness.” 134
LETTERXV;
On the Abolition of the Slave Trade. *- - - - - - ; . . ;140-
LETTER XVI.
On Natural History in general.—How to secure the Houses in Surinam from Insects
__On the large W h ite' Caterpillar o f Surinam!—Curious Spider,—Snakes and
Serpents.—The Rattle Snake.— Frog with a Tail.—American Cameleon or
A gamma o f Surinam. —Argus Collibri, a fine Species, o f Humming Bird.— Different
singing Birds.—On the Rooks o f Surinam.—Parrots and Paroquet.—Little
Grass Paroquet,—Quadrupeds.—The Sloth*—Little Ant-eater.—Paca and Cayey.
—Quadrumanes. - - - - - - 150