EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 23 



This reptile is produced in a tree called the mountain- CHAP. 

 cabbage-tree^ which is one of the palm fpecies. The .j^^^^' , 

 worm grows to the fize and thicknefs of a man's thumb, 

 is produced from the fpawn of a black beetle, and is ex- 

 tremely fat. However difgufting to appearance, thefe 

 worms are a delicious treat to m,any people, and they are 

 regularly fold at Paramaribo. The manner of dreffing 

 them, is by frying them in a pan with a very little butter 

 and fait, or fpitting them on a wooden fkewer. In tafte 

 they partake of all the fpices of India, as mace, cinna- 

 mon, cloves, nutmegs, &c. Several fpecies of thefe 

 worms are produced in all the palm-trees when begin- 

 ning to rot, but fome are larger than others. They are 

 all of a pale yellow colour, with black heads. In the 

 plate annexed are reprefented the above-mentioned fine 

 butterfly, and the cabbage-tree-worm, both of the na- 

 tural iize, taken from the life. By the Indians and ne- 

 groes they are called toecoema. 



On the 13th, a detachment departed for La Rochelle in 

 Patamaca, and the following day a captain was fent with 

 a few men back to the Hope, in Comev/ina, to protect the 

 eftates in that river. 



On the fame day, the miferabie old negro who had cut 

 his throat on the 5th day of March, but had fince re- 

 covered, was feen by fome flaves to enter the wood 

 with a knife, from which he no more returned, being 

 foon after found ftabbed to death. We were after- 

 wards informed by his mafter, that for fome time be- 

 YoL. II. - D 4 o fore 



