Notes on the West Indies
Written during the Expedition under the Command of the Late General Sir Ralph Abercromby
Published on 9. December 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
478 pages
978-1-108-02425-9 (ISBN)
Description
George Pinckard (1768-1835) was an army surgeon who arrived in the West Indies in 1796. His letters to a friend were published as Notes on the West Indies in 1806; a second edition came out in 1816. He describes at length all that he saw, from the very beginning of his journey, with vivid portrayals of characters and experiences: for example, before departure he saw a sailor being flogged around the fleet for desertion. Arriving first in Barbados, he describes the island, its people and its wildlife. He visited a slave trader's ship, and he gives a very good report of the condition of the slaves (most of whom were teenagers), in sharp contrast to horrific accounts also in circulation. His derogatory opinions about many of the Africans and half-castes that he met, particularly the women, perhaps typify the responses of a westerner of his age and class.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
669 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-108-02425-9 (9781108024259)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
Preface; 1. Concerning the correspondence of distant friends; 2. Scenery, promenades, amusements, &c. of Southampton; 3. The author returns to London with Doctor Master; 4. Author returns to Southampton; 5. Author and his comrades detained in suspense at Portsmouth; 6. Author receives instructions to proceed to Cork in the Bridgewater transport; 7. Author goes to Spithead and St. Helen's with Dr. Henderson, in search of the Bridgewater transport; 8. Author and his colleagues joined by Dr. Cleghorn; 9. Author and his comrades embark on board the Ulysses at Spithead; 10. Leeward Island division of the expedition puts to sea; 11. A dreadful storm overtakes the fleet; 12. Military incertitude not inferior to the glorious uncertainty of the law; 13. Author and his comrades again on shore; 14. Perilous expedition of the author and others to the Motherbank; 15. Excursion to the Commerce de Marseilles at St. Helen's; 16. Convoy sails on the 9th of December; 17. The new year mild and of good promise; 18. Lord Sheffield arrives at Barbadoes; 19. Ceremony of cleaning and painting West India ships; 20. Author continues to address his friend, although he cannot send away his letters; 21. Author and his comrades live on board ship at Barbadoes; 22. Meat sold alive in the market at Barbadoes; 23. Sunday a day of festivity among the slaves; 24. Author and his comrades receive kind attentions from Mr. B. Hinde; 25. Author and his comrades make an excursion to Col. Williams's; 26. Convoys and packet still delayed; 27. Marooning excursion to the windward coast of Barbadoes; 28. Still no tidings of the Commander in Chief, or the Convoy; 29. Author claims the freedom of 'noting' upon all subjects; 30. Author sends his friends a list of the ships of the convoy which had reached Barbadoes; 31. Senate house, and general assembly of Barbadoes; 32. A packet arrives at Barbadoes.