EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 309 



which feparates them from his wrifts, and is driven per- c H A P, 

 pendicularly into the ground, infomuch that he can no XXVIL 

 more ftir than if he was dead. In this locked pofition, 

 trufled Hke a fowl, he is beaten on one fide of his breech 

 by a ftrong negro, with a handful of knotty tamarind 

 branches, till the very flefh is cut away ; he is then 

 turned over on the other fide, where the fame dreadful 

 flagellation is infli6ted, till not a bit of fiiin is left, and 

 the place of execution is dyed with blood : after which 

 the raw lacerated wound is immediately wafiied with le- 

 mon-juice and gun-powder to prevent mortification, and 

 then he is fent home to recover as well as he can. 



The above cruel and indecent punifliment is fometimes 

 repeated at every ftreet in the town of Paramaribo, to men 

 and women indifcriminately, which is a feverity abfo- 

 lutely beyond conception ; however, it is never thus in- 

 flicted without a condemnation from the court. But a 

 fingle fpanfo-bocko, without regard to age or fex, as I have 

 juil: mentioned, may be ordered by any proprietor, either 

 at home, or by fending the victim to the fortrefs, with a 

 note to the public executioner, to whom fome trifle in 

 money is paid as a fee of office. 



I next was addrefled by a Monfieur Rocbetaux, whbfe 

 Coromantyh cook, having fpoiled his ragout, had jufl: cut 

 his own throat to prevent a whipping; and Mr. Charlea 

 Reynfdorp's lately did the fame. 



After thefe fads, can it be a matter of furprize, that 



the 



