A SICK CREW. 321 



having escaped so many dangers, v,e began to 

 apprehend a melancholy conclusion to our 

 voyage. 



This misfortune had probably been commu- 

 nicated to us by contagion. The homeward- 

 bound ships of the English East India Com- 

 pany, which almost all touch at St. Helena, 

 having nothing in view but a quick passage, and 

 the profit resulting from it, do not generally, as 

 I have myself had opportunities of observing, 

 pay that proper attention to cleanliness and 

 wholesome diet which is absolutely necessary 

 to health. During our residence at St. Helena, 

 several of these ships were lying in the roads 

 with sick on board. It is true that, according 

 to a standing order, no vessel is allowed anchor- 

 age there till a surgeon has examined into the 

 state of health of her crew ; but the captains 

 find means to evade the investigation, and 

 thus are the healthy liable to become infected 

 by association with the diseased. 



Half our crew lay sick, and our skilful and 

 active surgeon was unfortunately of the num- 

 ber. A favouring gale, however, sprang up, 

 which carried us into a cooler and drier climate, 

 P 5 



