(Some minor shop talk. Fabi Labi Beyman was a real person, but he was granman of the Ndyuka when the IRL treaty between them and the Dutch was signed IOTL. The new one is a fictional character. Captain Zobre was a real person, but I couldn't find his first name or the unit he was captain of. The actual treaty will come next.)
30 July 1759
Honorable Captain Zobre,
I begin this letter with my continued hope that God Almighty continues to bless you and your family with health and good fortune. I commend you for your continued service to the Colony and to the Republic. It is my regret to inform you that your services are once again required to maintain order among men in the Colony. Multiple esteemed gentlemen of the Society of Suriname have informed me of recent anxieties. I have been told there is a potential threat to our prosperity that lies near the Tapanahony. No doubt you have heard of the villages of Jews that have sprouted up like weeds in recent decades. They did no ill to us Christians when they only consisted of a few plantations by the Suriname River. In fact, I am forced to admit that their presence brought commerce to our Colony. Their heathen religion could be forgiven as long as they were upstanding white men. Men of the Society have informed me that they have not only converted their Negroes to their religion but have made them free men of their nation! Furthermore, they did not even bother asking their Christian neighbors, let alone writing to me, before putting their vile plan in action. Such a scheme to boost their number can only be a sign that they mean to overtake us God-fearing people; and it could only come from those who conspired against our Savior.
If that were not enough, I have also been informed that the Jews have formed a covenant with a savage tribe of Bush Negroes in the area. The Saramaka as they are called, have been a menace to us Christians ever since their ancestors ran away from their masters. Traders who have gone into the interior have reported seeing far more guns in the hands of black men than one would expect; no doubt supplied to them by the Jews. I have been told that the white Jews mostly keep to themselves, except for when they need to trade or communicate with the granman and his chiefs. The black Jews, however, have been seen fishing, working, and even fraternizing with their heathen fellows. Two years of impertinence from the Negroes at the Tempati Creek plantations has apparently bolstered the Saramaka’s numbers. When those planters whose Negroes ran away asked the white Jews for assistance in capturing them, they provided neither aid nor counsel to those beleaguered entrepreneurs.
I am reminded of the passage in Exodus where Pharoah tells his courtiers that they must “deal wisely” with the Hebrews before overrun the Egyptians. Therefore, as your Governor, I ask you to rally your men and march down to their settlements. Ascertain the combined number of Jews and Bush Negroes, negotiate an end to any hostilities that may exist, and find out what they want from us. The Society and my office shall reimburse you and your men for supplies, provisions, and gifts for the notables.
The chief representative of the Jews is a man by the name of Issac Cardozo. He is a planter that is respected among his countrymen for his knowledge in their faith, and among Christians for his business acumen. The founder of their colonies passed on some forty years ago, but in death he still has a great impact among these Jews. Speak well of him, and you may have more success. The granman of the Saramaka goes by the name of Abini. I have not been told much of him, but I hear he does not tolerate impertinence from any man, especially whites.
Under no circumstances are you or any man under your command to act hostile towards either the Jews or the Saramaka, but should they fire upon you, you are permitted to “do wisely” by them.
Go with God, and Long Live the Staadholder.
Wigbold Crommelin, Governor.
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08 June, 1759
Your Excellency,
I thank you for your good wishes, and I pray that the Lord bestows His goodness upon you as well. My men are in relatively good spirits, with a stable supply of provisions. It took us about a week to reach to reach Jodensavanne from our point of departure. Our first encounter went well, but it had the potential to go very awry. Without realizing it, my company reached our destination earlier than expected. Sometime in the late afternoon, we came across a group of Negro workers having a rest. Based on the logs that surrounded them, they had to have been felling trees. There were eight Jews and three Maroons in total. The Jews were sitting in a circle and conversing amongst themselves. We could tell they were Hebrews by their long beards, sidecurls, and short trousers. In contrast, the Bush Negroes were naked except for their loincloths and ornaments around their necks. It appears they were there as security, for they stood at attention with bows at the ready. They let up a great cry when they saw us, and one man notched his bow. I did not give the command to fire, but I could tell that my men were eager to reach for their muskets. The Jewish men ran up to us, and a great commotion of shouting began between the two groups.
It was not long before a white man on horseback in between the two groups. He spoke like a Hollander, but his bronzed skin indicated that he lived in Suriname for some time. He too was an Israelite.
He demanded to know who we were, and what right had we to trespass upon what apparently was his land. The man, who I learned was a burgher in his own right, became far more genial when he learned we were here on Your Excellency’s behalf. He introduced himself as Salomon Lopes. Once calm had settled, Lopes invited us to sit and share a meal with him and the Negroes. Some of the men were reluctant to dine with Jews, let alone Negroes, but the fatigue of a day’s march outweighs any hate in men’s hearts. Lopes walked off in the direction of his home and returned about ten minutes later with some loaves of bread and dried meat. We sat at a reasonable distance apart from the Negroes. Taking care to serve us first, Lopes distributed the food amongst the two groups. After he loudly recited a benediction for the group, Lopes stood and bid me to follow him. I ordered my men to set up camp where they were (to which Lopes granted his assent) and did so. Lopes’ wife served us coffee and sweets, which were of decent quality. I explained my mission to Lopes, to which he nodded in understanding. According to Lopes, the Jews do not have any hostile intentions against the Christians, but they are not fond of us either. Though they may be ignorant of their true Savior, I cannot say I blame them after what the Spaniards put their grandfathers through.
I asked him what the Negroes were doing on his land, and he explained to me that they were building a new house for one of the men; whose wife had just gotten pregnant with their second child. Amazingly, the Jewish Negroes had been slaves once upon a time, though not Lopes'. At the request of the Jewish elders, Lopes allowed the former slaves to live on his land. They worked for a slight pittance, most of which was withheld for "rent". They were hoping to expand the homestead into a village, which would eventually connect to larger settlements. That did not explain the presence of the Bush Negroes; but Lopes informed me that he hired them to guard against any wild animals, Indians, or Bush Negroes from hostile tribes that might want to venture on to his land. I explained to him that I needed to speak with the leaders of their people as well as his own. Lopes brought in one Bush Negro, and one Jew from outside. Both men were well-built and handsome, for Negroes. Lopes explained the situation to his ex-slave, who then passed it on to the Maroon. I was surprised that a white man of any stature could speak in a Negro tongue. In a very confusing chain of communication and translation, the message eventually was communicated. Neither Lopes nor the Maroon warrior were able to speak on behalf of their community, but they would be able to get me to people who could. Lopes has cordially invited me and my men to be his guests for the Sabbath, after which, he will make the proper arrangements for us to conduct a survey and begin negotiations. I shall immediately dispatch a runner with the results of the survey, as well as a draft of the treaty for your approval.
I remain, faithfully, your obedient servant,
Willem Zobre, Militia Captain.
