BOOK 11. CHAP. XIII. ^i^ 



colalu, ocra, ^c. every where to be had in ahundancc, with a 

 fmall ieafoning of the country pepper to corredl their flatulence, 

 would make a moft wholefome and ftrcngthening mefs for one or 

 two men, and at no greater charge than about 6 J. or at mofl 

 y ^d. currency. 



Particular attention ought likewife to be given to the quality of 

 the water, with which the men are fupplied. The barracks at Port 

 Royal and Fort Augufta are ferved from the Rio Cobre, a perfon 

 being paid about 400 /. /'^r ^«;z«;« for this purpofe : it would pro- 

 perly be the furgeon's duty to examine this water from time to 

 time, left, to fave a little trouble, it fliould be taken up too near 

 the mouth of the river, and fo be impregnated with the fait water 

 in the harbour : it ought likewife to be fufiered to fettle for fome 

 time in calks or jars, that it may not be drank in a turbid ftate, 

 which would probably occafion fluxes. 



It was intended, fome timefince, to form a ciftern at Port Royal, 

 to be lined with lead, for holding water for the ufe of the troops 

 quartered there : but it may not be impioper to remark here, by the 

 way, that water, ftanding for any time in a leaded veflel, becomes 

 impregnated with thepoifonous qualities of that metal ; and from late 

 difcoveries, and many well-attefted facls, has been found to produce 

 cbftinate conftipations, and cholicky diforders in the bowels, and not 

 unfrequently paralytic complaints. The water at Rock Fort is 

 brackifli andunwholefome ; but the officer commanding there, being 

 allowed a boat, and fix Negroes to navigate it, might eafily fupply 

 tliat fmall garrifon from Kingfton. At thofe places (if any fuch 

 there are in this ifland) where none other than brackifh water can 

 poffibly be procured, it may be rendered potable and wholefome by 

 diftillatioii [/']; or by fuffering it to percolate through land, with which 

 feveral puncheons, open at one end, might be filled to one third of 

 their depth. 



Coolnefs of drefs is another eflential article, whenever they arc 

 on a march in the country. When lieutenant colonel Spragge 



[i] Cap'ain Walli?, of his majcfty's (hip Dolphin, mentions, that in 5 hours and a quarter's iVilYd' 

 lation, he obtained horn 56 gallons ot fea water fix and thirty gallons of frefh, at an expence of 

 nine pounds weight of wood, and fixty-nine pounds weight of coals. Thirteen gallons and two 

 f^iarts remained in the Hill; and that which came off, had no ill tafte, nor (as he had often 

 experienced) any hurtful quality. 



Voyage round the World, vol, I. p. 5 1 ^. 



3/2 commanded 



