a-o NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP. On the lotb, having fpent mofl of the day with the 

 ^^^■^* governor, I in the evening went on board the fhips with 

 Captain Bolts, to infpe6t the preparations for the voyage ; 

 where we found that the mice and rats had made fuch 

 havock among our provifion, with which we were now 

 very well {locked, that I was under the neceffity of pro- 

 curing half a dozen cats to deftroy them, which ufeful 

 animals are in Surinam neither fo plenty, nor fo good, as 

 in Europe, being lazy and indolent, on account of the 

 climate. I obferved they were alfo fmaller ^nd ranker, 

 with remarkably long muzzles and fharp ears. 



The following day I was Ihocked and furprifed be- 

 yond the power of expreflion, at feeing a Mifs Jettee 

 de la Mare^ daughter to the lately deceafed gentleman 

 of that name, a lovely mulatto girl, aged fourteen, who 

 had been chriftened in 1775, and educated as a young 

 lady, dragged to court in chains, with her mother and a 

 few more of her relations, the whole furrounded by a mi- 

 litary guard. I had almoft attempted a refcue, when, 

 having enquired the caufe, flie called out to me herfelf, 

 weeping moft bitterly ; and informed^ me, that " llie w^as 

 " going to be tried by Mr. Schouten, her mother's mafter, 

 " for refufing to perform the work of a common flave, 

 " which fhe was utterly unable to perform, and could 

 " never have expected, from the footing upon which fhe 

 " had been educated till that unhappy moment." 



By the laws of the country, however, fhe was not only 

 obliged to fubmit, but at bis defire was condemned, for 

 difobedience, together with her poor mother, and all her 

 § relations, 



