EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 289 



by abroad fofle well fupplied with water, befides fome chap. 



■VJ T 



out- works. On the Eaft fide, fronting the river, is a bat- ,^ _ ^ 

 tery of twenty^one pieces of cannon. On one of the 

 baftions is a «4««k, which is ftruck with a hammer by 

 the fentinel, who is dire(5led by an hour-glafs. On the 

 other is planted a large enGgn-ftafF, upon which a flag 

 is hoifted upon the approach of flnps of war, or on 

 public rejoicing days. The walls are fix feet thick, with 

 embrafures but no parapet. I have already fpoken of 

 its antiquity. 



Paramaribo is a very lively place, the ftreets being ge- 

 nerally crouded with planters, failors, foldiers, Jews, 

 Indians, and Negroes, while the river is covered with 

 canoes, barges, Sec. conftantly pafling and repaffing, like 

 the wherries on the Thames, often accompanied with 

 bands of mufic ; the (hipping alfo in the road adorned 

 with their different flags, guns firing. Sec. ; not to men- 

 tion the many groupes of boys and girls playing in the 

 water, altogether form a pleafing appearance ; and fuch 

 gaiety and variety of obje6ts ferve, in fome meafure, to 

 compenfate for the many inconveniencies of the climate. 

 Their carriages and drefs are truly magnificent j filk em- 

 broidery, Genoa velvets, diamonds, gold and filver lace, 

 being daily worn, and even the matters of trading fliips 

 appear with buttons and buckles of folid gold. They 

 are equally expenfive at their tables, where every thing 

 that can be called delicate is produced at any price, and 

 ferved up in plate and china of the neweft fafliion, and 



Vol. I. P p moft 



