BOOK III. C H A P. VJ. 515 



although It may be attended at firfl: with fome extraordinary cxpcncc 

 to them. The habitations of their white fervants fliould be fixed 

 on airy, dry, and elevated, fpot?, raifed fome feet above the furfacc 

 of the earth, floored, and conftruded either of timber and plaifter, 

 or brick, but never (if poffible to avoid it) of flone ; which is a 

 very improper material in this climate for dwelling-houfes, on ac- 

 count of the damp and chill which it ftrikes in rainy weather ; but, 

 whenever it is unavoidably ufed for fuch buildings, the effects may be 

 rendered lefs pernicious, by furrounding them with a flied or pi- 

 azza, or lining the walls with boards, or lath and plaifter, let off to 

 fuch a diftance as to let the air circulate between. 



The like precautions muft be ufed in the eftablifhment of white 

 families, if the fpirit fhould ever revive of introducing and fettling 

 them in the ifland. The place allotted for their habitation fliould be 

 ftony, gravely, or at lealt dry, open to the wind, and remote from 

 the annoyance of vapourifh fwamps, or ftagnant waters. 



It may happen, that many perlbns, from the urgent nature of 

 their employ inent and circumftances, may be obliged to remain in 

 unhealthy fituations ; in this cafe they muft ufe the beft means in 

 their power to guard themfelves from the local mifchiefs to which 

 they may be occafionally expofed. Such perfons fliould fleep in the 

 higheft apartments of their houfe, whofe doors and windows ought 

 to be fo contrived as not to front or open towards a damp foil or 

 raarfli. At thofe feafons of the year when fwampy exhalations are 

 moft to be dreaded, as after heavy rains, and great heats fucceeding, 

 fires made in the evening, and early in the morning, with lignum 

 vitas, cafcarilla, candlewood, and other refinous woods, or I'ubftances, 

 would be very ferviceable. A Guiney merchant of Kingfton, whofe 

 Negroes were feized with the fraall-pox, then raging malignantly ia 

 the town, put them all into a warehoufe, in which was lodged a 

 confiderable quantity of pimento, for exportation, whofe odour was 

 fo powerful as to fubdue the ofFenfive ftench of the diforder, and 

 refrefhed the patients fo much, that they all got through it fafelj. 

 But of all anilfeptic vapours, none is fo powerful as the acid fteam of 

 burning brimftone, for correding putrid air, and checking contagion. 



In many parts among the mountains I have known houfes upon 

 elevated fpots not unhealthy, though furrounded with woodi. The 



U u u ? greater 



