Today, the Berbice River is calm and peaceful (see photo). But exactly 250 years ago, the Dutch were beginning to take control of the revolt along its banks. As they did so, they discovered that some of the most important rebels were changing sides ....
Amongst the traitors paddling downstream were two that I’d hear of time and time again. They were Okera and Gowsary. Both had been close to the revolt’s leaders, and each had made a crude assessment of his chances of survival. Living, it seems, was preferable to loyalty, and so they’d set off in search of the Dutch commander, de Salve. Not surprisingly, the colonel was only too happy to come to a deal. In return for their lives, the turncoats would tell him all he wanted to know. In fact, they did so well, that de Salve later appointed them as drummers in his regiment. Meanwhile, he had everything he needed. Within two weeks of his arrival, de Salve had found the rebel camp, burnt it down, and sent thousands of rebels reeling backwards through the bush.
It wasn’t long before the ships were returning down the estuary, loaded with captives.
Over the next three months, some 2,600 slaves were re-captured. One of the leaders, Atta, held out until 14 April 1764, having wandered around like a hunted animal. In the end, he was tracked down by his old lieutenants, Okera and Gowsary. It’s said that they laughed as he was tied up over a fire. De Salve then ordered that Atta’s flesh be torn away with red-hot pincers. For four hours Atta endured this until he eventually died. Observers say that throughout the ordeal, he hardly uttered a sound. Having been tortured most of his adult life, he was, it seems, impervious to pain ....