EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



their backs, this almoft dillocated their flioulders, and 

 muft have occafioned the moft agonizing tortures. Thus 

 I cut the miferable vi6tims down, without leave or ce- 

 remony, and fwore that inftant to demolilli the tyran- 

 nical overfeer who had infli(5led this new mode of punifli- 

 ment, unlefs he promifed immediately to forgive them ; 

 which he miraculoufly did in my prefence. 



On the 30th, a little before we landed at the Hope, I 

 difcovered that all my fugar, with the greateft part of 

 my rum, was gone ; and detected the thief by the follow- 

 ing laughable ftratagem (though not my own invention) 

 —I told the negroes, fix in number, that a parrot's feather 

 was to grow within fix minutes upon the tip of his nofe 

 who was moft guilty ; at the fame time pronouncing a 

 few incoherent words, and making two or three circles 

 with my fabre, I fliut myfelf within the tilt : here, peeping 

 through the key-hole, and obferving the rowers with 

 great attention, without their perceiving me, I foon faw 

 one of them, at every ftroke of the oar, put up his hand, 

 and feel the tip of his nofe ; upon which I inftantly ran 

 up to him, and cried, " I fee the parrot's feather ! Thou 

 « art the thief, thou rafcal !" To which the poor fuper^ 

 ftitious fellow inftantly anfwered, " Taw, me majjera 

 then kneeling to the forccrer for mercy, and the others 

 alfo intreating me to fpare him, I pardoned the credulous 

 thief and his accomplices, who by their candid confef- 

 fion obtained a piece of fait beef for their dinner, and a 

 gourd full of good grog in the bargain. 



Vol. II. F f Iramediately 



