EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



rebel negro was found by me covered with branches of c ii a p. 

 the manicole-tree, and indeed barely alive, being in ap- 

 l^earance nothing but ficin and bone, with one of his eyes 

 alrnoft beaten out of the focket. I put rny bottle to his 

 mouth, he fwallowed a few drops of rum and water, and 

 faid with a faint voice, which we could fcarcely hear, 

 ''Dank ye, me MaiTera!" but could articulate nothing 

 more. Fourgeoud ordered this man to be carried with 

 us in a hammock ; and v/e foon afterwards encamped 

 near a biree-biree fwamp or quagmire. I ought not to 

 forget that this day we faw fome very fine lociiji-trees^ 

 being eighty or a hundred feet high, and prodigioufly 

 thick ; the trunk is grey and very flraight, with no 

 branches till near the top, on which the leaves are dif- 

 pofed two to each ftem : this is j aftly called the king of 

 the foreft, for a finer tree cannot be found. The tim- 

 ber is of a beautiful cinnamon-colour, and pofTefTes every 

 defireable quality of gravity, polifh, grain, and durabi- 

 lity. — But what particularly attra(5ted our notice was its 

 feed, like beans, three or four in number, enclofed in a 

 broad light-brown pod, that lay fcattered in quantities 

 at the root of the tree, upon the ground, and tailed like 

 fome kinds of gingerbread. From the root of this tree 

 a gum exudes, which, properly prepared, affords a var- 

 nifli hitherto unequalled for tranfparency and effect. 



Innumerable indeed are the various fine trees that this 

 country produces, and which may be had for the cutting ; 

 yet, when we confider the diflance they ufually grow 

 from navigable rivers, the great labour in felling and 



working 



