156 EVENING THE HEAVY DEWS. 



deadly to Europeans. This extreme unhealthiness is 

 no doubt in a great part due to the vicinity of a low- 

 lying, swampy fringe of forest country ; which extends 

 pretty well everywhere along that coast. Here, in cer- 

 tain situations (during the evenings especially), the 

 fragrant atmosphere already described is apt to give 

 place to one in which a sickly odour of decaying 

 vegetable matter is often plainly perceivable, and which 

 is at times so strong as to be quite perceptible on 

 board vessels some miles from the coast. * It is one 

 of the wise and beneficent provisions of Nature, which 

 always associates evil odours with that which is hurt- 

 ful, and fragrant odours with health and things beautiful. 



The balsamic freshness and fragrance of the early 

 morning in these equatorial climates is, therefore, when 

 met with, more or less an indication of a salubrious 

 district. On the other hand, this instinctive loathing of 

 what is bad for us is a remarkable fact in our organization. 



In like manner, after the exhausting, stove-house- 

 like temperature of the day, the close of the evenings 

 prove brief but delightful periods of enjoyment but 

 hardly has darkness closed in before it is followed by 

 a copious fall of dew, so heavy that clothing becomes 

 wet through in a short time. The traveller who values 

 his health can never be too cautious in shielding him- 

 self from its baneful effects; if suitable houses with 

 proper verandahs attached are not at hand, a good 

 tent is a positive necessity almost everywhere within 

 the equatorial zone. It is mere suicidal folly for the 

 European traveller to expose himself, without proper 

 shelter, to the night-dews in these damp regions. 



* The Influence of Tropical Climates in Producing Disease, by 

 Sir James R. Martin, 1861, p. 36 (Quoted from Works of Dr. Daniell). 



