A. EF. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 517 
At present, the use of drinking water from wells is prohibited, 
except after official inspection. But from what 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 that 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 that, 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, ete. 
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 80 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. There 
* In the commission given to Governor Moore in 1612, he was instructed to 
pay the finder of ambergris 15: 4" per ounce. 
Governor Butler records the recovery of 28°4 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°. 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° 4° 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, 1914 ounces of 
ambergris belonging to Capt. Robert Folgate were sold by him for 50 pounds 
sterling. (See ch. 26, c.) 
+ 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. 
