EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 287 



pots, made by the native Indians on pnrpofe, which they CHAP. 



. XIL 



barter at Paramaribo for other commodities. The inha- , 

 bitants of this country, of every denomination, lleep in 

 hammocks, the negro flaves excepted, who moftly He on 

 the ground ; the hammocks iifed by thofe in fuperior 

 ftations are made of cotton, ornamented with rich fringe; 

 thefe are alfo made by the Indians, and fometimes worth 

 above twenty guineas ; neither bedding nor covering is 

 neceflary, except an awning to keep off the mufquitoes. 

 Some people indeed He on bedfteads ; in that cafe they 

 are furrounded, inftead of curtains, with gauze paviHons, 

 which admit the air freely, and at the fame time keep off 

 the fmalleft infedl. The houfes in general at Parama- 

 ribo are elegantly furnifhed with paintings, gilding, 

 cryftai chandeliers, china jars. Sic; the rooms are never 

 papered or plaiftered, but beautifully wainfcoted with 

 cedar, Brazil, and mahogany wood. 



The number of buildings in Paramaribo is computed 

 at about one thoufand four hundred, of which the prin- 

 cipal is the governor's palace, whence there is a private 

 paffage through the garden which communicates with 

 Fort Zelandia. — This houfe, and that of the commandant, 

 which has lately been burnt, were the only brick build- 

 ings in the colony. The town-hall is an elegant new 

 building, and covered with tiles ; here the different courts - 

 are held, and underneath are the prifons for European 

 delinquents, the military excepted, who are confined in 

 the citadel of Fort Zelandia. The Proteftant church, 



where 



