EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 75 



deftru6lion to feveral eftates, and during the night ap- CHAP, 

 peared moft tremendous from the fea ; while the eaft . 

 wind made the fmoke fo thick throughout the day^ that 

 one perfon could not fee another at the diftance of fix 

 yards. During this time it is not furprifing that the 

 fmell was almoft infupportahle. 



This fame year, a quantity of rock cryftal was difco- 

 vered in the inland parts of Dutch Guiana. 



In 1770, the houfe of Somelfdyk fold its fiiare or por- 

 tion of the colony to the town of Amfterdam for the 

 fiim of 63,6361. fterling; fo that from that period that 

 city polTeffes two-thirds, and the other third ftill belongs 

 to the Weft India Company, which, as I have already 

 ftated, form together the fociety of Surinam. 



The colony now feemed in a profperous and flourifh- 

 ing ftate, lince the concluding of the treaty with the Se- 

 ramica and Ouca negroes, and every thing exhibited an 

 afpe£l of peace and good order. The inhabitants believed 

 their perfons and effects in perfc£t fecurity, fo that no- 

 thing was thought of but mirth and difhpation, which 

 was foon extended to lavidmefs and profufion. Suri- 

 nam refembled, indeed, a large and beautiful gar- 

 den, ftocked with every thing that nature and art could 

 produce, to make the life of man both comfortable to 

 himfelf, and ufeful to fociety : all the luxuries, as well 

 as the neceffaries of life, abounded ; every fenfe was ap- 

 parently intoxicated with' enjoyment ; and, to ufe the 



L 2 fio-urative 



