BEHRING. 65 



which came to their prey without fear, as if they had 

 never before seen man. They were obliged to drive 

 these animals away from the corpses, the feet and 

 hands of which were mangled before they could be 

 interred. On the 9th of November the captain was 

 landed, well secured from the atmosphere, and placed 

 in a hollow by himself. The sick were all brought to 

 the land in a day or two more ; but it was remarked 

 that, of all who took to their beds in the ship, not one 

 survived. These were principally such as were indif- 

 ferent to existence, or feared the disease, and suc- 

 cumbed to it. Their disorder commenced with extreme 

 lassitude, which made the person attacked spiritless, 

 and indifferent to everything. A sort of asthma then 

 came on, which was felt on the smallest movement of 

 the body. The person attacked preferred inactivity, 

 and would rather lie down and die than move about. 

 Soon after, the limbs were struck with severe pains, 

 the legs became inflamed, the skin yellow, the body 

 covered with livid marks, the teeth loose, and the 

 mouth and gums bloody. Some of those attacked were 

 nervous, and terrified at the slightest sound they heard. 

 Others seemed to eat heartily, and did not think them- 

 selves in danger. They quitted their hammocks when 

 they heard the order for going on shore, dressed them- 

 selves, and believed they should quickly be well. On 

 leaving the interior of the ship, and the close, corrupted 

 air of the hold, and coming into the keen atmosphere, 

 they speedily expired. 



Those survived who resisted the complaint so much 

 as not to take to their beds, who kept in motion on 

 their feet as much as possible, especially if they suc- 

 ceeded, by natural lightness of temper, in driving away 

 melancholy thoughts. The instances of successful re- 

 sistance to the disorder were most observed in the offi- 



5 



