SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C» 291 



balls whistled over our heads without appearing to strike any 

 part of the vessel or rigging. One of the first measures taken 

 by the naval commandant on the station, was to insist on every 

 colonial boat, of whatever nature, wearing a distinguishing 

 vane. For registering the name of the vessel, and receiving 

 written instructions, the captain of the Hippomenus extorted 

 a joe, or thirty-six shillings, for each boat; therefore com- 

 puting the number of boats at six hundred, he made upwards 

 of one thousand pounds by this assessment on individuals. 

 Moreover every colony craft, however small, even an open 

 boat, was not allowed to pass and repass in and out of the river, 

 without having a Dutch flag flying. Such was the national- 

 lity they were led to, that a poor negro captain one day, who 

 after having passed the fort and anchored in the river, hauled 

 his Dutch colors down, was taken on board the corvette, and 

 severely punished for not keeping them flying until the sun 

 set. I saw the poor fellow afterwards, and he told me that his 

 schooner should not wear any colors in the river until the Eng 

 lish took the colonies again ; that he did not care for the Dutch 

 captain, even if he flogged him every time he came in, he 

 would have his own way; to use his own language **kie! 

 massa Hendry, them Dutch color no good, mc schooner no 

 shall wear flag in the river, tae them English buchra come 

 again, when me shall buy one English jack; me no mind 

 suppose that Dutch oflficer flog me every time me schooner 



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