94 NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, country air, and the hofpitable manner in which we 



were entertained at his eftate, had fuch an efFe6l on my 

 conftitution and my fpirits, that on the ninth I returned, 

 if not recovered, at leaft greatly benefited, to Paramaribo. 

 But I fhould be guilty of partiality, did I not relate one 

 inftance, which throws a fhade over the humanity even 

 of my friend Macneyl. 



Having obferved a handfome young negro walk very 

 lamely, while the others were capering and dancing, I 

 inquired into the caufe of his crippled appearance ; 

 when I was informed by this gentleman, that the negro 

 having repeatedly run away from his work, he had been 

 obliged to hamftring him, which operation is performed 

 by cutting through the large tendon above one of the heels. 

 However fevere this inftance of defpotifm may appear, 

 it is nothing when compared with fome barbarities which 

 the talk I have undertaken will oblige me, at the ex- 

 pence of my feelings, to relate. 



On our return to the town of Paramaribo, the only 

 news that occurred confifted in a few fliocking execu- 

 tions ; alfo that the Boreas man of war. Captain Van-de- 

 Velde, had failed for Holland ; and that Colonel Forgeoud 

 had on the eighth, the Prince of Orange's anniverfary, 

 entertained a large company with a ball en militaire, in 

 the officers guard-room. The mufic on this occafion 

 conlifted of two fiddlers only, who had the confcience to 

 make the colonel pay one hundred and twenty Dutch 

 florins for rofin and catgut. 



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