EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 317 



exhauflible, and produces upon an average three or four CHAP. 



XIII 



hogflieads per acre. In 177 1, no lefs than twenty-four . j 

 thoufand hogfheads were exported to Amfterdam and 

 Rotterdam only, whichj valued at Hx pounds per hogf- 

 head, though it has fometimes fold for double, returned 

 a fum of near one hundred and fifty thoufand pounds 

 Iterling, befides the vaft quantity of melaffes and kill- 

 devil ; the firft computed at feven thoufand hogilieads, 

 and fold to the North Americans for twenty-five thou- 

 fand pounds ; the fecond, which is diftilled in Surinam, 

 and ufed chiefly by the negroes, valued at as much more, 

 which produces no lefs than two hundred thoufand 

 pounds per annum 



The kill-devil is alfo drank by fome of the planters, 

 but too much by the common foldiers and failors, and, 

 when new, a6ls as a flow pernicious poifon upon an Eu- 

 ropean conftitution. On the contrary, it never hurts the 

 negroes, but is even necefl^ary and wholefome, efpecially 

 in the rainy feafons, when they are fometimes indulged 

 with a Angle dram per day by their maflers, though this 

 cuftom is far from being general. There is no part of 

 this falutary plant ufelefs ; the chaff refufe, and leaves 

 of the cane, being ufed for manure and fuel. All the 

 eftates are clofely furrounded by the uncultivated fo- 

 reft, whence the herds of wild deer often commit very 

 great ravages, when the pieces being furrounded bj^ 



* The firft fugar was refined anno 1659. 



armed 



