EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



.ftin-fet, again fl- the advice of Mr. and Mrs. de Lange, in 

 a fmall barge, covered only with a loofe awning. We had 

 not rowed above two miles when not only night came 

 on, but we were overtaken by fuch a fliower of rain, as 

 had nearly funk us, the boat's gunwale not being more 

 than two inches above the water : however, by the help 

 of our hats and calibafhes, we kept her afloat, while a 

 negro fat upon the bow, holding out a boat-hook ftraight 

 before him, to prevent us from being overfet, by inadver- 

 tently running, in pitch darknefs, againftthe roots of ma-*, 

 groves, See. which thickly lined both the banks of the. 

 river all the way upwards. 



In this ftate of wet and obfcurity, at ten o'clock at night, 

 we came to the Jacob,. being juft afloat and no more; for 

 Bolts and I had no fooner leaped on the beach, than the 

 boat funk with all that was in her, the flaves luckily fwim- 

 ming afhore. Alas ! amongft the wreck, was my poor 

 box, with my journal, and all my paintings,., which 

 had coft me above two long years fo much labour, carcj 

 and attention. I was truly diftrefled at this lofs, when a 

 Ikilful, negro dived feveral times to the bottom, and at laft 

 brought up my little treafure, which, though thoroughly? 

 foaked, I was very happy to have again in my hands. 

 Thus ended our fhipwreck, when having drank feme 

 warm grog and flung our hammocks, we all fell afleep 

 round a good fire, by which I made fliift to d-ry myfelf^ 

 and, what was of more confequence, my papers. 



The following morning we again fet out, and rowed for 



Magdenberg, 



