Details
Contributor Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797
Title Manner of bush-fighting by the African negroes; Gradation of shades between Europe & Africa. [graphic].
Publisher London: Published by J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard
Publisher ENGLAND. London. 1791
Date Dec. 1, 1791
Physical Description 1 print: engraving; overall 25 x 19 cm. (9.75 x 7.5 in)
Description As Stedman noted, he sketched the top diagram to better convey the African negroes' manner of bush fighting. The following explanation can be found in his text: "The two columns E and F are supposed to be first engaged, where No 1 in the column E commences the attack by firing at random in the opposite bushes; and instantly retires, by shifting his place to No 1 in the column C, where he re-loads; while No 2 in the column F, having fired at the flash of his pan, advances in the same manner, shifting his station to re-load at No 2 in the column D; and at the flash of whose pan No 3 fires in E, and receives the fire of No 4 in F, &c. &c. Thus continuing through both lines, til No 8 has fired in F, when the whole have shifted their stations; and the same manoeuvre is continued with the columns C and D, beginning again with the identical numbers 1, 2, 3, &c. at the top; while these lines, having shifted their places, still the firing is repeated by the lines A and B, and thus ad infinitum, until by sounding the horn one of the parties gives way in fight, and the battle is over." Below the diagram, a color scale shows some skin-tone gradations between black and white. Commenting on this, Stedman wrote: "Having frequently mentioned the different shades between a black and a white, the same plate represents them to the reader at one view. From the above two colours the mulatto is produced; from the mulatto and black, the sambo; from the mulatto and white, the quaderoon, & c. &c."
Is part of Stedman, John Gabriel, 1744-1797. Narrative, of a five year's expedition, against the revolted Negroes of Surinam. London: Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard, & J. Edwards, Pall Mall, 1796.
Notes Plate LIV in John Gabriel Stedman's Narrative, of a five year's expedition, against the revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the wild coast of South America; from the year 1772 to 1777 (London: Printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul's Church Yard, & J. Edwards, Pall Mall, 1796), vol. 2, p. 98.
Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Resistance.
Subject Fighting -- Suriname.
Slave insurrections -- Suriname.
Miscegenation -- Suriname.
Geographic subject Suriname -- Pictorial works -- 18th century.
Genre Engravings -- 1790-1800.
Book illustrations -- 1790-1800.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Books & Other Texts | Rare | Am 1796 Sted 755.Q v 2 p 98
Accession number 755.Q