i68 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP, difcontented with fuch a load, took every opportunity, in. 



^^^^ my abfence, of torturing him, by knocking him againft 

 roots and ftones, and dragging him through mud and 

 water as they went along. Different patroles were now 

 ordered out to reconnoitre the grounds, while the re- 

 mainder of the troops encamped in the zve/l part of Co- 

 faay ; and thefe patroles difcovered no lefs than four 

 beautiful fields in one chain, fituated due wefl from Co- 

 faay, well flocked with caffava, yams, plantains, piftachio 

 nuts, with maize and pigeon peas : alfo were feen feveral 

 human carcafes, the relidls of our late engagements in 

 Augufl. W e found here a fpecies of medlars of a crim- 

 fon colour, and of a tafte very much like that of flraw- 

 berries. This fruit grows on a large green fhrub, and is 

 cultivated in many gardens at Paramaribo. We alfo met 

 with a kind of wild plum-tree called monpe. : the fruit is 

 yellow, oblong, and fmall ; the ftone is large, the pulp 

 thin, and though of a fliarp acid has an agreeable fla- 

 vour. 



On the morning of the 2ifl, all thefe and every ufeful 

 vegetable were cut down, and again deftroyed by fire ; 

 after which, returning to our laft night's camp, w^e found 

 \X alfo in flames, and were obliged to fling our hammocks 

 in the eaji fkirts of the woods. Here, recollecting that 

 the poor di fabled rebel was left alone, I ran back wejl to 

 the burning camp to afford him afliftance; but after feek- 

 ing him in vain through clouds of fmoke and darknefs, I 

 was forced to confult my own fafety, by haltily return- 

 ing 



