EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



follow me ; but again to no purpofe, my compafs being 

 with the troops, and not a glimpfe of funfhine, owing to 

 the heavy rain ; till the black boy put me in mind that 

 on the fouth fide the bark of the trees was ufually moft 

 fraooth. This in fa6l was a fortunate hint, and we pro- 

 ceeded through thick and thin, till, overcome by fatigue 

 and hunger, we both fat down, and looked at each other, 

 exadlly like two vidims doomed to execution. During 

 this laft mournful filence, we heard a found like coua.h- 

 ing and the ruftling of arms, which, thank Heaven ! foon 

 proved to be our own troops, luckily for us refting near 

 an old encampment, where the purfuing party from the 

 river Pirica had lately lodged. At this moment, notwith- 

 Itanding my prefent fituation, I enjoyed an extraordinary 

 degree of mental happinefs ; which proves how much all 

 good and evil are only of a relative nature. Having now 

 been heartily welcomed by the other officers, I partook 

 of fome cold beef and bread, and a gourd full of grog, as 

 did alfo my poor boy. After this regale the party rofe, 

 and purfuing our march, we once more entered a quag- 

 mire, or rather a mud-pool, the furface being too thin to 

 carry us ; through which having waded till it was pitch 

 dark, we were obliged to encamp in the very middle of 

 it, the troops by flinging their hammocks in the trees, 

 one above another, and the flaves on temporary rafts made 

 above the furface of the water, on which were alfo placed 

 the powder, the vi6tuals, &c. 

 On the 26th, the good Colonel having now drank his 



coffee 



