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 13th, a barge with provisions, coming from Paramaribo (shocking
to relate!) found the negro that was missed on the 5th at the water’s
edge, lying in the brushwood, with his throat cut from ear to ear, but
still alive, the knife having missed the wind-pipe. This miserable
apparition of skin and bone they took on board, and brought to
Magdenberg, where, by a skilful surgeon, Mr. Knolaert, the wound was
sewed up, and the man surprisingly recovered, having lain nine days in
that dreadful condition without any subsistence or covering whatever,
and weltering in his own blood, even without a bandage. The week after
I had nearly lost my own life by an accident. Two negroes of the estate
Goet-Accord being employed in hunting and fishing for Fourgeoud, one of
them, named Philander, proposed to me to accompany them in the wood,
where we might chance to meet with some pingoes, or powesa; but a heavy
shower of rain coming on, when we had only walked two miles, we
determined to relinquish the project, and repair to the small spot
called the Jacob for shelter, to gain which we were obliged to pass
through a deep marsh. Having waded till up to our arm-pits, Philander,
who was the finest man without exception that I ever saw, began to
swim, as did his companion, with one hand, holding their fowling pieces
above the water with the other, and desired me to follow them. This I
tried, having nothing on but my shirt and trowsers; when, after
swimming two or three strokes, I sunk to the bottom like a stone, with
the weight of my musquet; but relinquishing it, I immediately rose to
the surface, and begged that Philander would dive for it; who having
secured his own to a mangrove, brought it up without difficulty. At
this moment a thundering voice called out through the thicket,—“Who
somma datty? and another sooto sooto da Bonny kiry da dago? Who is
that? Who is there? Fire! shoot! it is Bonny, kill the dog!”—and
looking up, we saw the muzzles of six musquets presented upon us at a
very little distance indeed. I instantly dived, but Philander answering
that we belonged to Magdenberg, we were permitted to come on shore one
by one at the Jacob, and found that these trusty negro slaves, having
heard a flouncing in the water, and seeing three armed men in the
marsh, took it for granted that the rebels were coming, headed by Bonny
himself, for whom they had mistaken me, being almost naked and so much
sun-burnt; besides my hair, which was short and curly, I entirely
resembled a mulatto. Being refreshed with some rum, and having dried
ourselves by a good fire, we now returned back to the Magdenberg, where
I congratulated myself on my escape.
On the 19th, Colonel Fourgeoud being now supplied with fresh troops,
sent a whole ship load of invalids to Holland, who sailed this day; and
on February the 26th, my dear friend Heneman also sailed for Holland,
in an extremely debilitated state.
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