EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 343 



ftaining, however, from animal food, and ufing plenty chap. 

 of acid with my drink, I had no doubt of getting well '^^Y' . 

 in a few days ; the more fo, as tamarinds grew here in 

 profufion. 



Indeed, on the 16th, I was almoft perfe6lly recovered, 

 (weaknefs excepted) when about ten in the morning, as 

 I was fitting with Joanna before my cottage, I had an un- 

 expeiled viiit from a Mr. Steger, who happened to be 

 one of our furgeons. After having felt my pulfe, and ex- 

 amined my tongue, he declared without ceremony that 

 I fliould be dead before the morrow, unlefs without fur^ 

 ther delay I made ufe of his prefcription. I acknowledge 

 the fentence itaggered me fo much that, though at other 

 times I never ufed medicines at all, I inftantly fwallowed 

 the dofe, which he had prepared for me in a tumbler, 

 without hefitation, but almoft as inftantly I dropped 

 down on the ground. 



In this manner I lay till the 20th, being four days be- 

 fore I came to my fenfes, when I found myfelf Itretched on 

 a mattrafs in my little houfe, with poor Joanna fitting by 

 me alone, and bathed in tears, who begged of me at 

 that time to afk no queftions, for fear of hurting my 

 fpirits, but who next day related to me the-difmal tranf- 

 action, viz. that the moment I fell, four ftrong negroes 

 had taken me up, and by her dire6tion placed me where 

 I now was ; that the furgeon having put blifters on fe- 

 veral parts of my body, had finally declared that I was 

 dead, and had fuddenly left the plantation) when a grave 



and 



