465 



as in England, to con fume th** whole of the 

 afternoon over the bottle. Wine is taken 

 liberally at dinner-time, and the party with- 

 draw from the table very foon after. At M. 

 Abbenfet's, cards were introduced almoft as 

 foon as we had dined, and we played whift 

 until obliquity tempered the fcorching rays of 

 the fun, when we engaged in a pleafant prome- 

 nade about the plantation, and proceeded as far 

 as Sans Souci, the adjoining eftate, to call on 

 Mynheer Abbenfet's nephew. 



Soon after we returned from our walk, 

 the fupper-boarcjl was'fpread, and to crown the 

 evening, fome very fine old Hollands, and the 

 fecial pipe were introduced. You will perhaps 

 be furprized to learn, that I was the only one 

 who could not enjoy this part of the repaft : 

 molt of the officers have acquired the habit of 

 fmoking, and fome of them have become fuch 

 adepts in this, I cannot but add, dirty and in- 

 elegant cuftom— however focial — that they 

 can already drink gin, and whif a pipe or fagar 

 almoft as well as any fem per- fmoking Dutch- 

 man of the colony ! You w T ill probably envy 

 them the accomplifhment as little as I do ! 

 We went to our hammocks very foon after 

 VOL, II. H 11 



