EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



117 



On the morning of the 22d, our commander ordered a c H A P. 

 detachment to crofs the bridge and go on difcovery, at all „^^^„^^^t^ 

 hazards. Of this party I led the van. We now took 

 the pafs without oppofition ; and having all marched, or 

 rather fcrambled over this defile of floating trees, we 

 found ourftlves in a large oblong field of cafTava and 

 yams, in which were about thirty houfes, now deferted, 

 being the remains of the old fettlement called Cofaay. In 

 this field we feparated into three divifions, the better to 

 reconnoitre, one marching north, one north-weft, and 

 the third well. And here, to our aftonifliment, we dif- 

 covered that the reafon of the rebels fliouting, finging, 

 and firing, on the night of the 20th, was not only to cover 

 the retreat of their friends, by cutting off the pafs, but 

 by their unremitting noife to prevent us from difcover- 

 ing that they were employed, men, women, and children, 

 in preparing warimboes or hampers filled with the fineft. 

 rice, yams, and caflava, for fubfiftence during their ef- 

 cape, of which they had only left the chaff and refufe 

 for our contemplation. 



This was certainly fuch a mailerly trait of generahhip 

 in a favage people, whom we affedted to defpife, as would-- 

 have done honour to any European commander, and ha&> 

 perhaps been feldom equalled by more civilized nations. - 



G II A P, 



