Voyage to the Western Coast of Africa. 9.91 



ance of grog was then served out, with the same precaution that 

 every man had on dry clothes ; shortly after which hammocks 

 were piped down. 



Such was the method I followed in watering the ship. It 

 might perhaps have taken up more time, than if we had adopted 

 the general practice of continuing this duty throughout the whole 

 night. But any advantage which the greater expedition of the 

 latter method may afford, is infinitely less than the benefits re- 

 sulting from the system we adopted : for the men were thus pro- 

 tected from the dangerous effects of the night-air on shore, which 

 have often proved fatal to European constitutions, and, at the 

 same time they were never kept away from their regular meals 

 or rest at the usual houi's. The first object of an officer, in the 

 internal management of a ship, should be the health and com- 

 forts of his crew ; and certainly, by the method which I follow- 

 ed at this unhealthy place, that object was completely attained ; 

 for out of the 50 men who were occupied on this duty, only one 

 person complained of any illness, and he, after the third day, was 

 seized with a slight fever, in consequence of drinking some of 

 the country rum. The party was always attended by a lieute- 

 nant and three petty officers, each of whom had charge of a cer- 

 tain number, and for whom he v/as made respoasible. The ut- 

 most vigilance was necessary, to prevent the men from straggling 

 and stealing away in quest of the spirits sold by the natives, who 

 are anxious to entice them, in order to make them drunk and 

 then strip them of their clothes. 



About this period, a very remarkable instance of infection oc- 

 curred on board, which had very nearly been attended with the 

 most fatal consequences. The sail-maker and several of tlie 

 seamen had been employed in repairing the wind sails and mak- 

 ing awnings. For this purpose, some old canvass was brought 

 up from the boatswain's store-room, with which we had been 

 supplied from the dock-yard at home. Two of the people at 

 work were taken suddenly ill with a nausea, followed by fever. 

 The next day the old canvass was again brought upon deck for 

 the same purpose, and two or three others who were at work on 

 it were also taken ill in the same manner. This circumstance 

 struck me as something very particulai*, and on examining the 

 canvass, I observed the appearance of blood and matter on it in 



