•202 ~ NARRATIVE. 



ciples, rather than the humidity of the soil, which causes the 

 increase of malady at this period. It generally assails new resi- 

 dents in August, and few are the exceptions among the oldest 

 inhabitants, of the month of October passing, without their 

 being attacked by the fever of the country. 



These disadvantages are more or less attendant upon the greater 

 number of our African settlements, but Bathurst possesses an 

 additional danger, which has proved fatal to many ; and a painful 

 instance of it occurred during my residence there, in the person 

 of Mr. Malcolm Ritchie, who fell a victim to his indefatigable 

 exertions in the pursuit of his medical profession. This great evil 

 is, the considerable and inconstant range in the thermometer, 

 during the space of twenty-four hours ; I have repeatedly seen it 

 as low as 60° at six in the morning, and as high as 90° at mid-day, 

 in the shade. A consumptive constitution, therefore, must not 

 calculate on experiencing that relief at Bathurst, which is so 

 generally found in a warm climate. 



The Harmattans, or hot winds from the desert, occurring chiefly 

 in December and January, are severe, and more scorching than 

 those of the leeward coast ; they frequently crack tumblers and 

 glass shades, and one, unusually powerful, cracked even the large 

 bell of the barracks. If, therefore, combining the variation of the 

 climate, the locality, the rarity of good soil, with the frequent 

 scarcity of fruit, vegetables, and pasturage, I pronounce Bathurst 

 to be the least healthy of all our African settlements, no one 

 will accuse me of being prejudiced by the misfortune which there 

 befel me. 



Since the clearing of the island from its superfluous timber, 

 many pretty houses have been erected, which render the town 

 extremely prepossessing in its appearance from the river''; and 



'' The annexed drawing, PI. 10, was taken from the upper veranda of the 

 Government-House. It gives a faithful delineation of tlie greater part of the barracks. 



