EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 127 



pedled, it could fcarcely afford daily fubfiftence to his ema- C H A P» 

 elated troops on their arrival; who having for many days t 

 lived on rice, yams, peas, and Indian corn, were now moft 

 violently attacked by the f'ux ; for although that kind of 

 nouriiliment will keep the Indians and negroes ftrong as 

 horfes, the Europeans cannot long fubfift without animal 

 food; which was at this time fo very fcarce, that even 

 the Jew foldiers of the Society troops devoured fait pork 

 as faft as they could catch it. 



I neverthelefs continued among the few that ftill were 

 healthy ; which was almofl a miracle, as I had fared 

 very hard indeed for want of my private ftores, and 

 which, as wa& mentioned, I had left at the neighbouring 

 eftate Mocha: however, expelling leave now to bring 

 them in perfon from that plantation, I was in good fpi- 

 rits alfo. But here J was difappointed, by Colonel Four- 

 geoud's declaring he could not fpare me one moment, 

 while 1 was able to Hand upon my feet. I therefore waited 

 patiently for an opportunity of fending for them ; in the 

 mean time fharing with my black boy the fcanty allow- 

 *iance of a private foldier, with the cafual addition of fome 

 mountain-cabbage, or palm-tree worms, and perhaps a 

 few warrappa fifh. 



As for the miferable flaves, they were fo ftarved, 

 that having killed a Coata monkey, they broiled it, with 

 fkin, hair, inteftines and all, then tore it to pieces with 

 their teeth, and devoured it like fo many cannibals, before 

 it was even half dreffed. Of this animal they offered me 



a limb ; 



