EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



conqiierably harfh and fevere to his officers, he was 

 however not wanting in affability to the private foldiers. 

 He had read, but had no education to affift him in 

 digefting what he read. In fliorr, few men could talk 

 better, but on moft occafions few could a6t worfe. 



Such were the chara6ters of our commanders, while 

 the oppofition of two fuch men to each other could 

 not fail to produce unhappinefs to the troops, and ope- 

 rated as a fufficient caufe for the fluctuating ftate of 

 political affairs in this dejedted colony. 



As. we ftill continued. totally inactive, I am neceifarily^ 

 deprived of the pleafure of relating any of our hero's 

 warlike atchievements. — To relieve the famenefs of the 

 narrative, I therefore take the liberty of defcribing one 

 of his favourites. -T-This was no other than a bird called 

 the toucatiy and in Surinam banarabeck or cojacai^ either 

 from its bill having fome refemblance to that fruit, or 

 from its being accuflomed to feed on it, and perhaps from 

 both. This animal the colonel kept hopping tame 

 amongft his poultry. . 



The- toucan is not larger than a tame pigeon, and yet 

 its beak is no lefs than fix inches in length, if not more. 

 It is fhaped like a jackdaw, carrying its tail almoft per^ 

 pendicular, except when it flies ; its colour is black, eX' 

 cept a little white under the throat and breaif, which is 

 bordered with red in the form of a crefcent reverfed, and 

 a few feathers above and under its tail, fome white and 

 fome crimfon. The head is large, with a blueifh ring 

 . . roviad 



