EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 269 



feen during feveral years refidence among them, ever to CHAP. 



XXVI 



have obferved even an offer to kifs a woman in public. ,_ ^_ ' , 

 Maternal tendernefs for their children is alfo natural to 

 the females, for in general, during the two years which 

 they ufually fuckle them, they never cohabit with their 

 hufbands ; this they confider as unnatural, and preju- 

 dicial to the infants : and the cafe of Lefperanza (who 

 bore fo many children in a fhort time) is no exception, as 

 her children died almoft as foon as they came into the 

 world. The cleanlinefs of the negro nation is peculiarly 

 remarkable, as they bathe above three times a day. The 

 Congo tribe in particular are fo fond of the water, that 

 they may, not improperly, be called amphibious ani- 

 mals. 



The negroes are likewife fpirited and brave, pa- 

 tient in adverfity, meeting death and torture with the 

 moft undaunted fortitude. Their condu6l, in the moft 

 trying fituations, approaching even to heroifm ; no ne- 

 gro fighs, groans, or complains, though expiring in the 

 midft of furrounding flames. Nor do I remember, upon 

 any occalion whatever, to have feen an African flied a 

 tear, though they beg for mercy with the greateft ear- 

 neftnefs when ordered to be flogged for offences which 

 they are confcious deferve to be puniflied ; but if they 

 think their punifhment unmerited, immediate fuicide is 

 too often the fatal confequence, efpecially amongft the 

 Coromayityn negroes, who frequently, during the a6l of 

 flagellation, throw back their heads in the neck, and 



/wallow 



