5;8 JAMAICA. 



of tlie fand from dripping out with the water, which may he col- 

 lefted in a receiver placed underneath. The fand ufed for this 

 purpofe (hould be fhlfted now and then, perfeftly clear from dirt, 

 and free from all mixture of fea-fand. Several of thefe fand- 

 ftrainers might be provided where a large fupply is required. And 

 thus any perfon may have no bad fubftitute, where a natural fpring 

 is not to b; met with. Brackifli water might be very much de- 

 purated, if not wholly corrected, by this method : but, fiiould this, 

 fail, a very pure element may be obtained with a common ftill, 

 even from fea water; and, for this procefs. Dr. Hales advifea 

 powdered chalk, in the proportion of half an ounce to a gallon of 

 water, to be from time to time put in at a hole in the upper part 

 of the ftill, helow the head, to prevent the rifing of the fpirit of 

 the bittern, which would caufe a difiigreeable taile ; tliis hole to 

 be immediately clofed, to prevent any abatement of the quantity 

 diftilled. The fame ingenious gentleman invented the tin air-box, 

 full of holes ; by blowing through which, with a pair of common 

 bellows, the moll ftinking water may be fweetened ; the frefli 

 ftreams of air thus thrown in, and difperfed throughout the ven- 

 tilated water, caufing the putrid vapour to afcend, and efcape from 

 it: and, by this method, a whole butt of ftinking water has been 

 corrected in the fpace of an hour. Nothing is more likely to difpofe 

 the body for the reception of difordcrs, than water filled with putrid 

 particles. It is worth the experiment, whether even lagoon water 

 may not be rendered potable, after being firft well llrained, by 

 tranfmitting fhowers of frefh air through it. The failors, belong- 

 ing to the merchant-fhips which load at this ifland, will very fre- 

 quently, out of meer lazinefs or ignorance, fill their caflcs with 

 brackifli water, taken up at the mouth of a river, or even with 

 lagoon water ; rather than be at the pains to procure what is fweet 

 and wholefome. There is fcarcely a harbour in the ifland, indeed 

 I do not know of above one, wliere a fupply may not be had of 

 iJ-Qod water. This carelefs practice, and the want of cieanfing 

 their caiks before they are filled, may probably have often bred 

 fluxes and other diforders among the crews of thefe ihips. 



The lagoon water, being the con(l:ant feminary for mufkeetos, 

 is loaded with the eggs and dead bodies of thefe infc'Sts. It fwarms-, 



bcfides. 



