EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



I now made another offer to join him in the woods; 

 But inftead of permiffion, he fent me orders to haften to 

 L'Efpei"ance, in EngUfli the Hope eftate, as I fha]l hence- 

 forth call it, fituated in the upper part of Rio Comewina, 

 there to take the command of the whole river during 

 his abfence ; which being new to me, I repaired to this 

 poft with the greater fatisfadtion. 



Haying provided myfelf with a compleat camp-equi- 

 page, and purchafed provifions, I was foon ready to de- 

 part for my new ftation. But before I leave Paramariboj 

 I muft remark, that during my ftay there no lefs than 

 nine negroes had each" a leg cut off, for running away 

 from their mafters. This punifliment is a part of the 

 Surinam adminiffration of jufticc, and is performed at 

 the defire of the proprietor, and was executed by a Mr. 

 Greuber, the furgeon of the hofpital. During this in- 

 human operation, the poor fufferers very deliberately 

 fmoaked their pipe of tobacco. For this fervice the fur- 

 geon received about fix pounds a limb : but, notwith- 

 ffanding his great abilities, four of them died immediate- 

 ly after the operation. A fifth deftroyed himfelf, by 

 plucking away the bandages and bleeding to death during 

 the night'. Thefe amputated negroes are common in 

 this colony, and are employed in rowing the boats and 

 barges of their Tnaffers. Others are feen deprived of an 

 arm ; and this is the forfeit for daring to raife it againfl 

 an European. 



I embarked on the r7th of February for the Hope, in 



the 



