584 JAMAICA. 



fered of getting him provided for, that he might no longer lie a 

 burthen on his father's hands, who was extremely poor, and had a 

 numerous family to maintain. This was effected through the good 

 office of another member of the club (which fliews the utility of 

 fuch inftitutions) ; who, on being appointed captain to a Guiney 

 trader, readily offered to take Apozem with him, in quality of 

 furgeon. This being chearfully aflented to, the young clocloy was 

 properly equipped for the occafion, and foon after entered on the 

 '1 voyage. They took in three hundred flaves, and failed from the 

 coaft, bound to the Jamaica market. The firfl: great exploit, per- 

 formed by Mr. Apozem, was in diminifliing the number of mouths 

 on board ; and fo effedlually did he exercile his ikill, that, by the 

 time they had reached their deflined port, he regittercd no lefs thaja 

 eighty Blacks, and nine white Teamen, on his dead lill. This won- 

 derful dilpatch made the captain extremely anxious to look out for 

 Ibmething on fliore more proportioned to his great abilities ; for he 

 wifely apprehended, that a longer continuance on board might pro- 

 bably leave the (hip without hands to navigate her. He therefore 

 gained the interefl: of the merchant to whom he was configned. 

 The merchant had a proper regard for the ihip-owners, and foon 

 found means to engage Mr. Apozem in the fervice of an honeft 

 planter who dealt with him ; and who, conceiving the higheft opi- 

 nion of Mr. Apozem's ikill and knowledge, from the many enco- 

 miums that were laviflily given both by the captain and merchant, 

 flipulated fo handfome a falary, that Apozem quitted the fea with- 

 out the fmalleft hefitation. 



Mr. Apozem, foon after his entering upon this new fcene of 

 bufinefs, difdaincd to confine his carnage merely to the family with 

 whom he refided. Tlie firft ftep he took, after looking about him 

 a little, was to extend his pradice, as much as he could, among 

 other families and plantations ; fome of which were not lefs than 

 thirty miles dillant from his employer's habitation: fo that, in 

 about (ix or eight months, he was continually upon the high-trot, 

 riding poft, and Ipreading depopulation far and wide. His prin- 

 cipal inftruraents of death were mercury and o^/«;;/, ever miftakenly 

 applied, and injudicioufly combined. Liquid laudanum was his 

 ready help in time of need, and flood his ignorance in great fread. 



Whenever 



