44 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



days. The earth, notwithstanding' the heat of thefe days, 

 is yet perpetually cold, fo as to feel difagreeably to the foles 

 of the feet ; partly owing to the fix months rains, when no 

 fun appears, and partly to the perpetual equality of nights 

 and days ; the thinnefs of the cloathing in the better fort, 

 (a mullin fliirt) while the others are naked, and fleep in this 

 manner expofed, without covering in the cold nights, after 

 the violent perfpiration during the fultry day. Thele may 

 be reckoned imprudences, while the conftant ufe of ftagnant 

 putrid water for four months of the year, and the quantity 

 of fait with which the foil of thole countries is impregnated, 

 may be circumftances lefs conducive to health ; to which, 

 however, they have been for ever fubject by nature. 



It will be very reafonably expected, that, after this un- 

 favourable account of the climate, and the uncertainty of 

 remedies for thefe frequent and terrible difeafes, I mould 

 fay fomething of the regimen proper to be obferved there, 

 in order to prevent what it feems fo doubtful whether we 

 can ever cure. 



My firft general advice to a traveller is this, to remember 

 well what was the Hate of his conftitution before he vifit- 

 ed thefe countries, and what his complaints were, if he had 

 any ; for fear very frequently feizes us upon the firft 

 light of the many and fudden deaths we fee upon our firft 

 arrival, and our fpirits are fo lowered by perpetual per- 

 fpiration, and our nerves fo relaxed, that v/e are apt to mif- 

 take the ordinary fymptoms of a difeafe, familiar to us in 

 our own country, for the approach of one of thefe terrible 

 diftempers that are to hurry us in a few hours into eter- 

 nity. This has a bad effect in the very ilighteft diforders ; 



fo 



