290 N A R R A T I V E O F A N 



CHAP, mofl exquifitc workmanfliip. But nothing difplays the 

 * , luxury of the inhabitants of Surinam, more than the 

 number of flaves by whom they are attended, often 

 twenty or thirty in one family. White fervants are 

 feldom to be met with in this colony. 



The current money, as I have already ftated, are ftamped 

 cards of different value, from five fliillings to fifty pounds : 

 gold and filver is fo fcarce, that the exchange premium 

 for fpecie is often above ten per cent. A bafe Dantzic 

 coin called a bit, value fomething lefs than fixpence, is 

 alfo current in Surinam. Englifii and Portuguefe coin 

 are fometimes met with, but moftly ufed as ornaments 

 by the Mulatto, Samboe, Quaderoon, and Negro girls. 

 The Negro flaves never receive any paper money, for as 

 they cannot read they do not underftand its value ; be- 

 fides in their hands it would be liable to many acci- 

 dents, from fire or children, and particularly from the 

 rats, when it becomes a httle greafy. 



This town is well fupplied with provifions, viz» but- 

 cher's meat, fowls, fifli and venifon. Vegetables in par- 

 ticular the country abounds with ; befides the lu;xuries 

 pecuhar to this climate, they import whatever Europe, 

 Africa, and Afia can afford. Provifions, however, are ex- 

 ceflTively dear in general, efpecially thofe imported, which 

 are moftly fold by the Jews and matters of fhips. The 

 firfl enjoy extraordinary privileges in this colony; the 

 latter ere6t temporary warehoufes for the purpofe of 

 trade, during the time their fliips are loading with the 

 & produd:ions 



