EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 253 



refentment in the foldiers, and I was implored by the chap. 

 very accufers to fliew mercy. Obdurately ftopping my 

 ear, however, to all intrcaty from either fide, I made a 

 Itrong negro flave take up the hatchet, and inftantly 

 chop \hQ pork into three equal pieces; when, giving one 

 fliare to the profecutors, another to the malefadlors, and 

 the third to the executioner for having fo well done his 

 duty, the farce was ended to general fatisfadlion, and I 

 heard no more of robberies or complaints. 



On the 24th in the evening, two officers of the Suri- 

 nam Society troops arrived from Devil's Harwar, reco- 

 vered from their late indifpolition. One of them, calling 

 himfelf Le Baron de Z — b — h, and being infedted with 

 the efprit de corps, on his arrival feemed determined to 

 efpoufe Captain Meyland's caufe, abruptly alledging, that 

 I had difgraced him by epithets unbecoming his dignity. 

 I was amazed, and being confcious of my innocence, en- 

 deavoured to explain the matter in a friendly manner, in 

 which I was feconded by a Mr. Rulagh, one of my offi- 

 cers ; but the German, inflead of being appeafed, grew 

 more outrageous, and plainly told me that he infifted on 

 fatisfa6lion. I never had lefs inclination to battle in all 

 my life, I therefore left him without a reply, and walked 

 towards my hut in the moft gloomy mood imagina- 

 ble. It was not long, however, before I felt my indig- 

 nation fuddenly re-kindle, when, armed with my fabre 

 and piftols, I returned, fully determined to end the quar- 

 rel in the moon-fliine. But now, finding the Baron re- 

 tired to his hammock, I difpatched Mr. Rulagh with a 



Vol. I. K k 3 fummons, 1 



