“From different Parents, different Climes we came,
At different Periods”; Fate still rules the same.
Unhappy Youth while bleeding on the ground;
’Twas Yours to fall—but Mine to feel the wound.
London, Published Decr. 1st. 1794, by J. Johnson, St. Pauls’ Church Yard.
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:
elucidating the History of that Country, and
the description of its productions, viz.
Quadrupedes, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, Trees, Shrubs, Fruits, & Roots;
with an account of the Indians of Guiana, & Negroes of Guinea.
“O Quantum terræ quantum Cognoscere Cœli,
Permissum est, pelagus quantos apperimus in usus!
Nunc forsan grave, reris opis; Sed læta recurret
Cum ratis et Caram Cum mihi reddet solenne!
Quis pudor heu nostros tibi tunc audire labores;
Quam referam visas tua per Suspiria gentis!”
Valerius Flaccus.
Printed by J. Johnson, St. Pauls Church Yard, & J. Edwards, Pall Mall, 1796.
TO
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
GEORGE
PRINCE OF WALES,
THIS
ARTLESS NARRATIVE
IS,
WITH ALL HUMILITY,
INSCRIBED,
BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’s
MOST DEVOTED,
AND MOST OBEDIENT,
HUMBLE SERVANT,
J. G. Stedman.
Tiverton, Devonshire,
January 1, 1796.
[iii]
THE
PREFACE.
This Work being perhaps one of the most singular productions ever offered to the Public, I think it right to give the Reader a short sketch of what he is going to peruse.—I have endeavoured to arrange matters in some degree like a large garden, where one meets with the sweet-smelling flower and the thorn, the gold-bespangled fly and loathsome reptile, the richest glowing plumage and the darkest shades; the whole so variegated as to afford, I hope, both information and amusement, without racking or depressing the spirits, and damping the mind; not indeed in the modern pomp and brilliancy of style, but in a simple tale, where TRUTH is the chief ornament. [iv]
Here, in the different characters of a Commander—a Rebel Negro—a Planter, and a Slave—not only tyranny are exposed—but benevolence and humanity are unveiled to the naked eye. Here the Warrior—the Historian—the Merchant—and the Lover of Natural Philosophy, will meet with some gratification; while, for having introduced my private adventures, I must make some apology—but none for those of the lovely Slave, who makes not the least interesting figure in these pages—as female virtue in distress, especially when accompanied with youth and beauty, must ever claim protection.
Upon the whole, perhaps, some allowance may be made, when the Reader considers he is perusing no romance composed of fiction, but a real history, totally unembellished with the marvellous;—the production of an Officer, whose pen and pencil have alone been employed—and ON THE SPOT, a circumstance but very seldom met with.
As to the shocking cruelties that here are so frequently exposed, let it suffice to say, that to deter others from similar inhuman practices, and teach [v]them virtue, was my sole and only motive; while, on the other hand, it must be observed that Liberty, nay even too much lenity, when suddenly granted to illiterate and unprincipled men, must be to all parties dangerous, if not pernicious. Witness the Owca and Sarameca Negroes in Surinam—the Maroons of Jamaica, the Carribs of St. Vincent, &c.
While the Colony of Surinam however is reeking and dyed with the blood of the African negroes, truth compels me to observe, that the Dutch there are not the only guilty; but that to most other nations, and particularly the Jews, is owing this almost constant and diabolical barbarity.
Reader, peruse the pages annexed with impartiality and with temper—sort the flowers from the weeds—divide the gold skilfully from the dross—and perhaps you may not regret the hours you have thus dedicated. A few orthographical errors and inaccuracies have been discovered, particularly in the First Volume, from my having unavoidably been prevented from superintending its progress while in the press: But in a short Errata, and particularly in the Index, [vi]to which I refer the curious, will be found properly spelt the names of men and things.—Let it however not be understood, that I ever laid claim to excellence in writing or drawing; but if the plain and MANLY TRUTH, so often spoken of, and so seldom found, are of any avail—I presume to hope, that these Volumes are not entirely unworthy the attention of a British Public. [vii]
LIST
OF
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
A.
- Auckland (Lord) British Ambassador at the Hague.
- Ackland (Sir Tho. Dyke) Bart. Killerton.
- Anderson (Lady) York.
- Ashmead (Wm.) Esq. London.
B.
- Bute (Rt. Hon. Earl of).
- Bristol (Rt. Hon. Earl of).
- Bamff (Rt. Hon. Lord) 6th Dragoons.
- Barrington (Rt. Hon. Lord Viscount).
- Boydell (Rt. Hon. John) Lord Mayor of London.
- Baring (Charles) Esq. Exon.—5 Copies.
- Barwell (——) Esq. London.
- Broadley (R. Carlisle) Esq. York.
- Broadley (Isaac) Esq. Branlingham, Hull.
- Barker (Thomas) Esq. Jamaica.
- Bain (——) Esq. M. D. Bath.
- Burk (Geo.) Esq. Waddon Court, Devon.
- Batt (J. F.) Esq. Richmond.
- Brown (E. H.) Esq. Richmond.
- Black (John) Esq. of the Hon. East India Company’s Service. [viii]
- Besly (Wm.) Esq. Tiverton, Devon.
- Bates (Ralph) Esq. 6th Dragoons.
- Bastard (John P.) Esq. Kitley, M. P.
- Brown (Wm.) Esq. Wiveliscombe.
- Bush (Baron de) Commandant at Curacao.
- Bolls (And.) Esq. Capt. in the Dutch Navy.
- Bloys de Treslon (Cor.) Esq. Capt. in the Dutch Navy.
- Brown (——) Esq. Bristol.
- Bulguin (Mr. ——) Bristol.
- Blake (Mr. Wm.) London.
- Boudler (Mrs.) Bath.
C.
- Canterbury (His Grace the Archbishop of)
- Chichester (Sir John) Bart. Youlston.
- Chichester (Mrs.) Arlington.
- Chichester (Miss)
- Chichester (Miss Mary Macdonald).
- Cholwich (John B.) Esq. Farringdon House.
- Cambridge (R. O.) Esq. Twickenham.
- Cholmley (Nath.) Esq. Howsham.
- Cowley (John) Esq. London.
- Campbell (Rt. Hon. Ilay) Edinburgh.
- Cholmondeley (G.) Esq. London.
- Croft (John) Esq. York.
- Cooksley (J. Sparkes) Esq. Ashburton.
D.
- Dover (Rt. Hon. Lord).
- Douglas (Gen. Robert) Holland.
- Duntz (Sir John) Bart. Rockbere House.
- Drew (Richard) Esq. Exeter.
- Dennys (Nicholas) Esq. Tiverton.
- Dowce (Francis) Esq. Richmond.
- Danby (Wm.) Esq. Swinton.
- Drummond (J.) Esq. M. D. Jamaica.
- Ducarrell (——) Esq. Exmouth. [ix]
- Delaval (E. Hussey) Esq. London.
- Dickenson (Benj.) Esq. Tiverton.
- Dunsford (Mr. Martin) Author of the Memoirs of Tiverton.
- De Graav (Gid. And. D.) Esq. Surinam.
- Des Borgnes (Col. Briseval) Fourgeoud’s Marines.
E.
- Erving (George) Esq. London.
- Euler (——) Esq. for the Library of his Serene Highness the Prince of Orange.
F.
- Fitzwilliam (Right Hon. Earl)
- Ferrier (Col. Ilay) of His Majesty’s Scots Brigade.
- Fredericy (——) Esq. Governor of Surinam.
- Freeman (——) Esq. Chute Lodge.
- Freeman (Mrs. Elizabeth).
- Fitzgerald (Miss) Grange, Ireland.
- Follet (Rev. Mr. John) Tiverton.
- Fattet (Mr. Barth. François).
- Flower (Mr.) London.
- Flower (Mr. Benj.) Cambridge.
G.
- Guildford (Right Hon. Earl of).
- Gordon (Col. Robert) Deputy Governor at the Cape of Good Hope.
- Graham (John) Esq. M. D. Jamaica.
- Grinstone (Henry) Esq. Weston.
- Grinstone (Thomas) Esq. Kilnwick.
- Goodwin (G. R.) Esq. Bath.
- Godefrooy (Mrs. Eliz.) Surinam.
- Gray (Miss Jane) Edinburgh.
H.
- Heathfield (Rt. Hon. Lord).
- Harrowby (Rt. Hon. Lord) Sandon, Staffordshire.
- Hamilton (Sir Alexander) Bart. Retreat.
- Hildyard (Sir Robert D’Arcy) Bart. Winestead, York. [x]
- Hastings (Warren) Esq. late Governor General of Bengal.
- Hamell (Colonel) Cape of Good Hope.
- Home (Colonel Alexander) His Majesty’s Scotch Brigade.
- Hamilton (Robert) Esq. of the Hon. East India Company’s Service.
- Hunter (——) Esq. M. D. York.
- Hamilton (Major) Exon.
- Hilton (William) Esq. Jamaica.—2 Copies.
- Hecke (C. A.) Esq. Demerary.
- Harding (Rev. Mr.) Barnstaple.
- Heathfield (Thomas) Esq. Nutwell.
- Heneman (Gysbert) Esq. Hague.
- Haringman (John) Esq. Admiral in the Dutch Navy.
- Hogg (Jos.) Esq. Tiverton.
- How (J. M.) Esq. Wiscome Park.
- Hartford (Jos.) Esq. Bristol.
- Hobroid (Mrs.) Richmond.
I.
- Incledon (Robert) Esq. Pilton House.
- Incledon (Capt. T.) 3d Regiment of Foot.
- Jermain (Thomas) Esq. Bristol.
- Johnson (J. R.) Esq. Jamaica.
K.
- Keates (Rev. Richard) Tiverton.
- Kincaid (Patrick) Esq. Exon.
- Knight (Mr. Charles) Knightsbridge.
- Kennedy (H. J.) Esq. Cleves.
- Knollaerdt (——) Esq. Fourgeoud’s Marines.
L.
- Lardner (John) Esq. London.
- Lardner (Richard) Esq. Tiverton.
- Lardner (James) Esq. Axminster.
- Louïs (Mr. Jean) Exon.
[xi]
M.
- Macpherson (Sir John) Bart, late Governor of Calcutta.
- M’Queen (Dundas) Esq. Edinburgh.
- Macallester Loup (Duncan) Esq. Hague.
- Macauley (Alex.) Esq. London.
- Macauley (Angus) Esq. Bath.
- Macleod (Colonel) of His Majesty’s Scots Brigade.
- Mackay (John) Esq. London.
- Mackay (Hector) Esq. War Office.
- Maddison (Thomas) Esq. M. P.
- Mowbray (Robert) Esq. M. D. Cockayrny.
- Moore (John Hartnoll) Esq. Cadeleigh Court.
- Marshall (Mr. Robert) Tiverton.
- Moens (Mr. Adrian) Rotterdam.
- Medlaer (George Crawford) Esq. Fourgeoud’s Marines.
N.
- Northcote (Sir Stafford) Bart. Pine’s House.
- Nagle (Joseph) Esq. Calverleigh.
- Nagle (David) Esq. Bath.
- Nibbs (J. Langford) Esq. Beauchamp.—2 Copies.
- Needham (John) Esq. Gray’s Inn.
- Noot (Captain) Fourgeoud’s Marines.
- Nichols (Rev. Mr.) Richmond.
- Newte (Rev. Mr.) Titcombe, Devon.
- Newte (Thomas) Esq. late Captain in the Hon. East India Company’s Service.
- Newbiggen (Miss Jane) Edinburgh.
O.
- Owens (George) Esq. Tiverton.
P.
- Pepperel (Sir William) Bart. London.
- Palmer (Thomas) Esq. Berkley Square.
- Palmer (William) Esq. London. [xii]
- Plidell (J. M.) Esq. 6th Dragoons.
- Peachey (John) Esq. M. P.
- Prince (J. D.) Esq. Holland.
- Perret Gentilly (Major) Fourgeoud’s Marines.
- Polson (Hugh) Esq. Exmouth.
- Popple (Rev. Mr.) York.
R.
- Ryder (Right Hon. Dudley) M. P.
- Rockby (Right Hon. Lord) Horton, Kent.
- Ricketts (Hon. W. H.) Jamaica.
- Ricketts (E. Jarvis) Esq. Jamaica.
- Rosendaal (Countess de) Holland.
- Rolle (John) Esq. M. P. Tidwell.
- Ridsdale (G. W.) Esq. 6th Dragoons.
- Rolland (Adam) Esq. Advocate, Edinburgh.
- Robinson (William) Esq. Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh.
- Robinson (Capt. Thomas) of the Hon. East India Company’s Service.
- Rigaud (P.) Esq. R. A.
- Reynsdorph (Andrew) Esq. Surinam.
- Reay (Henry N.) Esq. Blenkwell, Durham.
S.
- Spencer (Rt. Hon. Lord Henry).
- Strickland (Sir George) Bart. Bointon House, York.—2 Copies.
- Strickland (Lady Eliza Letitia).
- Strickland (Miss Charlotte).
- Strickland (William) Esq. York.
- Strickland (Capt. Geo.) 8th Regiment.
- Sykes (Sir Christopher) Bart. York.
- Small (Major Charles) Isle of Man.
- Small (Peter) Esq. Montreal, Canada.
- Stuart (Hon. General John).
- Sampson (James) Esq. late His Majesty’s Consul General at Morocco. [xiii]
- Suttell (G.) Esq. York.
- Sturgeon (T. W.) Esq. Trowbridge.
- Swale (——) Esq. London.
- Sheriff (Mr. Robert) Leith.
- Stedman (John) Esq. M. D. Edinburgh.
- Stedman (Capt. Wm. George).
- Stedman (Miss Catherine) Edinburgh.
- Sharrat (Mr. John) Walsall.
- Sheldon (Miss Ann) Exon.
- Somerville (Miss Elizabeth) Edinburgh.
T.
- Todd (Mr. John) York.—2 Copies.
- Tozer (Aaron) Esq. of the Hon. East India Company’s Service.
V.
- Vance Agnew (Robert) Esq. Edinburgh.
- Van Coeverde (Colonel) Fourgeoud’s Marines.
W.
- Willoughby de Broke (Rt. Hon. Lord).
- Westerloo (General) Holland.
- Wemyss (Major) 11th Regiment of Foot.
- Wierts (Francis) Esq. Captain in the Dutch Navy.
- Winsloe (Thomas) Esq. Collipriest.
- Woolery (R. P.) Esq. Jamaica.
- Williams (Jos.) Esq. Jamaica.
- Wyville (Rev. Christopher) York.
- White (James) Esq. Counsellor, Exeter.
- Wray (G. Lewis) Esq. Spence Farm.
- Wood (Bevis) Esq. Tiverton.
- Worth (John) Esq. Worth House, Devon.
- Worth (Mrs. Mary) Tiverton.
- Wray (Mrs.) Richmond. [xiv]
- Watt (Mr.) London.
- Wardlaw (Mrs. Susan) Edinburgh.
CONTENTS.
CONTENTS of the FIRST VOLUME.
Chapter I. Page 1.
Introduction.—Revolt among the Negroes in Dutch Guiana—An Expedition sets out from the Texel—Short Account of the Voyage—The Fleet arrives in the River Surinam—Reception of the Troops in that Colony—Sketch of the Inhabitants, &c.
Chapter II. Page 30*.
General Description of Guiana—of the Colony of Surinam in particular—Accounts of its earliest Discovery—is possessed by the English—by the Dutch—Murder of the Governor, Lord Somelsdyk—The Settlement taken by the French, and ransomed.
Chapter III. Page 53.
First Revolt of the Negroes; Causes thereof—Distracted State of the Colony—Forced Peace concluded with the Rebels—Mutiny of Sailors, Soldiers, &c. [xvi]
Chapter IV. Page 74.
Short Interval of Peace and Plenty—The Colony plunged in new Distress by a fresh Insurrection, and nearly ruined—Review of the Troops for its Defence—An Action with the Rebels—Gallant Behaviour of a Black Corps—The Arrival of Colonel Fourgeoud’s Marines.
Chapter V. Page 86.
The Scene changes—Some Account of a beautiful Female Slave—The Manner of travelling in Surinam—The Colonel explores the Situation of the Rivers—Barbarity of a Planter—Wretched Treatment of some Sailors.
Chapter VI. Page 107.
Account of a dreadful Execution—Fluctuating State of political Affairs—Short Glimpse of Peace—An Officer shot dead; his whole Party cut to Pieces, and the general Alarm revived throughout the Colony.
Chapter VII. Page 132.
Armed Barges are sent up to defend the Rivers—Description of the Fortress New Amsterdam—A Cruise in the upper Parts of Rio Cottica and Patamaca—Great Mortality among the Troops—View of the Military Post at Devil’s Harwar. [xvii]
Chapter VIII. Page 178.
Three Estates burnt, and the Inhabitants murdered by the Rebels—Real Picture of Misery and Distress—Specimen of a March through the Woods of Surinam—Colonel Fourgeoud and the remaining Troops leave Paramaribo.
Chapter IX. Page 194.
Some Diseases peculiar to the Climate—Groupe of Negroes newly imported going to be sold—Reflections on the Slave Trade—The Voyage from Africa—Manner of selling them in the Colony—Description of a Cotton Plantation.
Chapter X. Page 216.
Colonel Fourgeoud marches to the Wana Creek—Harasses the Enemy—Account of the Manicole Tree, with its various Uses—March to the Mouth of Cormoetibo River—Some Rebels taken—Shocking Treatment of a wounded captive Negro.
Chapter XI. Page 258.
The Troops march back to the Wana Creek—The Rebels pass near the Camp—Pursued without Success—Great Distress for Want of Water—Mineral Mountains—The Troops arrive at La Rochelle, in Patamaca. [xviii]
Chapter XII. Page 285.
Description of the Town of Paramaribo and Fort Zealandia—Colonel Fourgeoud’s March to the River Marawina—A Captain wounded—Some Privates shot—Strange Execution in the Capital—Account of Fort Somelsdyk—Of the Hope in Rio Comewina.
Chapter XIII. Page 311.
A Sugar Plantation described—Domestic Happiness in a Cottage—Further Account of Fourgeoud’s Operations—Dreadful Cruelties inflicted by some Overseers—Instance of Resentment in a Rebel Negro Captain.
Chapter XIV. Page 338.
Colonel Fourgeoud at Paramaribo—Example of Ignorance in a Surgeon—of Virtue in a Slave—of Ferocity in a Commander—The Troops re-enter the Woods—Account of Loango Dancing—Uncommon Proof of Fidelity in a Negro.
Chapter XV. Page 378.
Description of the Indians, Aborigines of Guiana—Their Food—Arms—Ornaments—Employments—Diversions—Passions—Religion—Marriages—Funerals, &c.—Of the Caribbee Indians in particular—Their Trade with the Europeans.
