A. JE. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 517 



At present, the use of drinking water from wells is prohibited, 

 except after official inspection. But from Avhat is now known of 

 the modes of diffusion of this disease, it is probable that the abun- 

 dant house flies convey it, in many cases, directly from infected 

 excreta to human food and drink, for which the conditions are there 

 generally favorable. 



He considers tbat the epidemic of a fatal fever in 1849, which 

 affected the natives in large numbers, but not the soldiers, was 

 typhoid fever, the purer water supplied to the soldiers causing their 

 immunity. But previous to tbat, nearly one-half the total deaths in 

 the Naval Hospital, for a series of years, was due to this disease. 

 In recent years, since the nature and sources of the disease have 

 become better known, it has very much decreased. 



22.— Principal Productions and Exports, historically treated, 

 a. — Ambergris, Lumber, Fish, etc. 



The first article of export from the Bermudas was the large mass 

 of ambergris found there by the three pioneers, in 1610. The 

 amount is variously stated from SO to 180 pounds, and its value from 

 $14,000 to $32,000.* Governor Butler put it at nine score pounds, 

 valued at about £5,000 sterling, which was certainly too low for 

 that weight. He intimated that it was not all turned over to the 

 Company, and that the captain of the ship and a Mr. Kendall, an 

 adventurer, both of whom had been engaged with the finders in a 

 conspiracy to retain it all, had each embezzled a portion of it.f There 



* In the commission given to Governor Moore in 1612, he was instructed to 

 pay the finder of ambergris 13 s 4' 1 per ounce. 



Governor Butler records the recovery of 28% ounces in his time, for which he 

 paid one-half the value to the finders, at the rate of £3 per troy ounce, their 

 share amounting to £43. 6 3 . 3 d . and his own to £4. 15% according to the rules of 

 the Company. 



In the " Orders and Constitutions," adopted in 1622, No. 124, one-fifth of any 

 ambergris found was reserved to the Company, the rest to be divided equally 

 between the finder and the owner of the land where found, except 3 3 4 1 per 

 ounce, which the governor was to receive. 



At this time it was considered worth about £3 sterling per troy ounce, but the 

 quality and prices varied somewhat. 



According to an attestation of Edward Walker, April, 1626, 19^ ounces of 

 ambergi'is belonging to Capt. Robert Folgate were sold by him for 50 pounds 

 sterling. (See ch. 26, c.) 



f Capt. John Smith gave its weight as four-score pounds. But probably 

 Governor Butler was a better authority, for Christopher Carter, one of the 

 finders of it, was living at Bermuda, in his time, and probably many others who 

 had seen it were known to him ; the interval was but seven years. 



