Narrative, of a five years' expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana on the Wild Coast of South America; from the year 1772 to 1777 ... Volume 2 (of 2)Stedman, John Gabriel
History
Narrative, of a five years' expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana on the Wild Coast of South America; from the year 1772 to 1777 ... Volume 2 (of 2)
Stedman, John Gabriel
Indians of South America -- Guiana; Slavery -- Suriname -- History -- 18th century; Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797 -- Travel -- Suriname; Suriname -- Description and travel; Suriname -- History -- To 1814
On the 23d I sent up to the hospital at Magdenberg two sick officers,
Orleigh and Francen, with all the privates that could bear to be
transported; and, at the same time, I repeated my humble entreaties to
be soon relieved from so very disagreeable a situation (for the
confinement to which there was not the least necessity), and requested
to be one of the party to march against the rebels, but to no purpose;
while the accounts came from below that a fresh nest of negroes were
discovered, even close to Paramaribo, and the news came from above that
the troops there were daily dying away; amongst others, on the 22d,
expired a Captain Seyburg, brother to the Colonel. This was actually
the third captain who died within the space of one month.
On the 26th two fine young officers arrived, unfit for service by
ruptures, occasioned by the slippery state of the ground in the rainy
season.
This evening one of our marines named Spanknevel, was missing, and was
not found till the 29th, when he was discovered suspended by a nebee to
the branch of a tree. Not one of his comrades would cut him down, he
having hanged himself; alledging, that to touch him, according to their
prejudices, (being Germans) would render them as infamous as himself.
Wherefore, by my orders, he was taken down, and interred by the
negroes.
An order at last came for my relief, and I immediately set out for
Goed-Accoord, in company with Captain Bolts; where the planter, Mr. de
Lange, and his lady, received us with great hospitality. This sugar
estate being the farthest that is cultivated in Rio Comewina, and
consequently exposed to the neighbourhood of the rebel negroes, makes
the slaves liable to their seductions; they are therefore treated with
peculiar kindness and indulgence, to prevent their concurring in any
insurrection, or being persuaded to leave their present situation.
Here we saw a great novelty indeed, the young negro women waiting at
the table all stark naked, as they came into the world. I was at first
startled at the unusual appearance; and asking the cause, was modestly
answered by the lady of the house, that it was ordered so by their
mothers and matrons, to prevent (by such means of detection, said they)
their too early intercourse with the males, and child-bearing, which
would spoil their shapes, weaken their strength, and cramp their
growth. Indeed finer made figures I never beheld than were both the men
(witness Philander) and the women on this plantation, whose beautiful
shapes, liveliness, strength, and activity, were inferior to no
Europeans.
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