Graman Quassi

Plate engraved by William Blake to illustrate John Gabriel Stedman's Narrative 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 describing its productions, viz. quadrupedes, birds, fishes, reptiles, trees, shrubs, fruits, & roots; with an account of the Indians of Guiana, & Negroes of Guinea''. The volume was published originally in 1796.

This plate shows Graman Quassi (ca. 1690 - ca. 1780) or Quacy, Kwasi, Kwesi and Quasi. A botanist in Surinam, whose name was Kwasimukamba (Kwesi Mukamba), was a freed slave and the discoverer of the Quassia Amara. The bitter was a medicinal plant which anti-fever property were discovered by Kwasimukamba .