Sentence:  ... although a few [slaves] live comfortably at Paramaribo, the greatest number are wretched, particularly those governed by a "lady", who have many <WSD>weals</WSD> to show, but not the smallest indulgence to boast of. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A raised, longitudinal wound, usually purple, on the surface of flesh caused by a stroke of a rod or whip; a welt.