EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



cotton hammocks, which are covered with a very large 

 thin flieet, fufpended from a tight line immediately over 

 them, fomething like the awning of a fhip, which ferves 

 in fome meafure to keep off thefe troublefome infedls, 

 and the want of which had expofed me to be thus flung 

 all over. 



There are alfo in Surinam a ftill larger fpecies of gnats 

 or mufquitoes, called mawkers, the flings of which are 

 extremely painful indeed ; but as they are much lefs 

 numerous than the former, they are not nearly fo trou- 

 blefome to the inhabitants, and are confequently lefs 

 remarked. But to proceed : 



On the morning of the 22d, an elderly negro- worn an, 

 with a black girl about fourteen, entering my apartment, 

 it would be difficult to exprefs my aftonilhment when 

 file gravely prefented me her daughter, to become what 

 flie was pleafed to term my wife. I had fo little gallan- 

 try, however, as to rejeifl the offer Vvith a loud laugh ; 

 but at the fame time accompanied the refufal with a 

 fmall but welcome prefent, with which they appeared 

 perfe6lly fatisfied, and departed with every poffible de- 

 monftration of gratitude and refpe6t. The girls here, 

 who voluntarily enter into thefe connec5tions, are fome- 

 tim.es nmlattoes, fometimes Indians, and often negroes* 

 They all exult in the circumftance of living with an 

 European, whom in general they ferve with the utmoft 

 tendernefs and fidelity, and tacitly reprove - thofe nu- 

 merous fair-ones v/ho break through ties more facred 



Vol. I. E and 



