1831.3 "Consolations" in Cholera. 391 



these did not easily yield ; the mate thinking at the moment he over- 

 heard footsteps on the stairs, attempted to force the ornament from the 

 ear, and in so doing tore away part of the flesh. Blood instantly spirted 

 from the wound, and with a deep groan the Genoese slowly raised him- 

 self from his narrow bed ! The mate was filled with terror ; he threw 

 himself on his knees, and implored all the saints in the calender to 

 pardon the sacrilege he had committed. He declared he meant no harm 

 to any one ! When the mutual surprise had so far subsided as to admit 

 of an explanation of their relative situations, it was discovered that the 

 captain had been too speedily deposited in his coffin. He embraced the 

 mate, and prayed heaven to reward instead of punishing him, for only 

 tearing off his ear, whereby he had prevented him from being buried 

 alive ! 



Benito Soto, the pirate, who was imprisoned at Gibraltar, during the 

 epidemic of 1828, nearly succeeded in getting himself removed from 

 his prison, by ingeniously colouring his face with yellow ochre, 

 and his tongue with ink. In this state he was found by the gaoler, 

 extended on the floor of his cell. So frightful did his condition appear 

 that even those who had taken pains to innoculate themselves with the 

 disease, were afraid to approach him. Reflection, however, on the 

 symptoms of his case, led to the suspicion that some hoax was intended. 

 He was consequently strictly watched, and the trick was discovered. 

 Instead of being conveyed to the hospital, as he expected, where he 

 would not have found it difficult to make his escape, he was more closely 

 confined than ever. This jmposture having failed, he subsequently 

 attempted to commit suicide, which, from the cares of Mr. Scrogie, 

 one of the garrison staff, who presides at the farewell ceremonial of 

 culprits, he was prevented from effectually accomplishing. 



The over-crowded population of Gibraltar, during the last fever in 

 this place, filled with just alarm the sinecurists, who had so long enjoyed 

 the fruits of office ; they perceived the attention of the government at 

 home would now necessarily be drawn to the state of the populatitm in 

 the garrison, and therefore adopted every expedient to reduce the 

 amount of its numbers, and amongst other measures, strictly prohibited 

 the re-entrance into the town of all the Spanish emigrants, who had 

 been encamped, during the fever, on the neutral ground. Orders 

 were given to the inspectors at the different gates to prevent their 

 admission. Towards the close of the fever the ingenuity of these gen- 

 tlemen was roused to devise means to escape the vigilance of the 

 gate-keepers. The dead-carts, which, from the regularity of their 

 arrivals and departures, had been compared to stages, and had been 

 actually nick-named " The Swan," " The Defiance," " The Black Vomit," 

 &c. &c. were pitched upon, on account of their fitness for concealment, 

 as an excellent means of serving tlieir purjiose. A party of these ill-fated 

 men bargained with the driver to carry them into the garrison, which 

 being agreed on, they were placed within the vehicle, and conveyed 

 without observation to their place of destination. They had scarcely, 

 however, descended from tlie pestiferous cage in which they Iiad been 

 confined, ere they were seized with the worst symptoms of the yellow- 

 fever, the carts being strongly impregnated with tlie contagion. Con- 

 trary to their expectations, they all fell victims to their temerity ; and 

 were soon after removed in the same conveyance to their graves. 



