BOOK III. C 11 A P. VI. 563 



feaman per diem, the price of which cannot be rated lower than 3^. 

 whence it appears, that, without any extra charge to government, 

 the feamen on this ftation might be Supplied with a daily allowance 

 of fugar or melafles, viz. a pint of mclafles, or half a pound weight 

 of mufcovado fugar, the coft of either of which would not exceed 

 one penny fterling, and in general it would be found to fall fhort 

 of the expence of beer, about % d. fterling per gallon, and con- 

 duce infinitely better to keep the men in good health. 



The liquor called grog, or a mixture of rum and water, is often 

 rendered noxious by putting in an over-proportion of rum. For 

 although the drinkers of it fet out at firft with a moderate quantity 

 of the fpirit ; yet, as by habit it grows more and more taftelefs, they 

 arc induced gradually to add a little and a little more, till they bring 

 their mixture to equal parts of half rum, half water, and fometimes 

 three parts fpirit to one of water, for their common dilution at meals, 

 and in the heat of the day. I have known feveral perfons deftroy 

 themfelvcs in this manner, who at firft were extremely fober and 

 temperate ; but it was a work of fome time before they arrived at 

 that degree of excefs which was necefl'ary to bring on a dro()fy, or 

 other bad habit of body. Without a large proportion of water, or 

 the correction of a fubacid, as the juices of fruits, melafles, fugar, 

 cremor Tartaric tamarinds, and the like, it promotes, inftead of al- 

 laying, thirft ; and every draught, that is fwallowed, ferves but to 

 provoke the fwallowing another, till the faculties are ftupified. 



After being heated in this climate with exercife in the fun, I 

 know not a more excellent remedy than a bafon of warm green tea, 

 fweetened with fugar or fyrup, with the addition of a fpoonful of 

 found old rum. This prefently refliores the perfpiration, takes off 

 the fenfation of fatigue, and is cooling and refrefliing. But cold 

 liquors, as punch, &c. drank at fuch a time, are apt to fupprefs 

 the perfpiration, increafc heat, and bring on violent pains in the 

 head, and fometimes a fever. 



9. The faccharine matter fermented in order to the making rum, 

 produces in hot climates a copious quantity of 'volatile oil, which 

 unites with the fpirit during Jermentntion. 



Part of this oil then combines with the fpirit, and comes over in 

 the courfe of diftijlation united with it. 



4 C 2 The 



