EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



old path, which we followed, leading dh'e6lly to the fields 

 of Gado-S iby, where quantities of rice once more ap- 

 peared in full bloom, which we cut down and burned to 

 alhes. Here, perceiving the poor rebel negro hopelefs 

 of recovery, not abfolutely to bury him alive, he was 

 overfpread with mofs, leaves, and green boughs; after 

 which we flung our hammocks, being almofl: choaked 

 with fmoke. 



In thefe fields I faw a lizard above two feet long, which 

 the negro flaves killed and ate : they called it fapagala, it 

 was of a brownilli green colour, but did not referable 

 the iguana. Among the ruins of the confumed town 

 we difcovered fome fcolopendras^ or centipedes, no lefs 

 than eight or ten inches in length ; this odious reptile is 

 of a yellowifli-brown colour, walks very faft backwards 

 or forwards, and bites fo feverely, that the venom it in- 

 fufes, though not deemed fatal, generally produces a fe- 

 ver. Some writers affign this reptile twenty pair of legs^ 

 others forty ; 1 never reckoned them, and can only ob- 

 ferve, that they appeared to me exactly to referable the 

 centipedes in Europe. Some of our gentlemen formed 

 large collections of thefe curiofities, which were very va- 

 luable, whilft I contented myfelf with the drawings and 

 defcriptions only of thofe I thought moft uncommon. 



On the 20th, we marched to vifit Ccfaay, when I per- 

 ceiving the unhappy negro captive flill alive; after re- 

 moving the branches, he was, at my earned interceffiouj 

 once more carried along with us;, but the flaves, being 



difcontented 



