EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



gether, I have a6lually killed to the number of thirty- 

 eight at one ftroke. 



In rowintj down to Barbacoeba, v/e faw one or two 

 beautiful fnakes fwim acrofs the river. In the courfe 

 of our progrefs we occaiionally met with a little relief, 

 by ftepping afliore under the fliade. I now had recourfe 

 to the advice of an old negro. — " Caramaca," faid I, 

 " what methods do you take to preferve your health?" 

 — " Swim every day twice or thrice, Sir," faid he, *' in the 

 " river. This, Mafara, not only ferves for exercife where 



I cannot walk, but keeps my fkin clean and cool ; and 

 " the pores being open, I enjoy a free perfpiration, 

 " Without this, by imperceptible filth, the pores arc 



fhut, the juices ftagnate, and difeafe mufl inevitably 

 " follow." Having recom pen fed the old gentleman with a 

 dram, I inftantly ftripped and plunged headlong into the 

 river.' I had, however, no fooner taken this leap, than 

 he called to me for God's fake to come on board ; which 

 having done with much aflonhhment, he reminded me 

 of the alligators, as well as of a filh which is here 

 called pery. — " Both thefe. Sir," faid he, " are exceed- 

 " ingly dangerous, but by following my diredions you 

 " will run no hazard. You may fwim entirely naked, 

 " only take care that you conftantly keep in motion ; 

 " for the moment you are quiet, you run the rillv of 



their fnapping off a limb, or being dragged to the 

 " bottom." 



Having 



