OF MALARIA. 19 



and, in the wet season, dysenteries are observed, but the 

 fevers incident to warm climates elsewhere, are here of rare 

 occurrence. In speaking of this country, Malte Brun has 

 this expression : " Hitherto we have heard of no such fatal 

 epidemic fevers as are frequent in some other colonies 

 situated in warm climates." 



Mr. Titian Peale, the zealous and successful naturalist, 

 who accompanied Captain Wilkes on the exploring expedi- 

 tion to the Southern Ocean, writes to Professor Dunglison, 

 that he never saw a case of intermitting fever in either 

 natives or strangers, in the Polynesian Islands, although 

 the officers and men of the expedition lived and slept in 

 the midst of marsh stenches and mosquitoes, when the days 

 were hot, and the huts open and exposed. 



Captain Wilkes himself describes these islands as fer- 

 tile, moist, hot, but, yet as remarkably salubrious, as is 

 evinced by the general good health of the men, who were 

 often exposed at night, by the shore duties of the service, 

 to fatigue, night air and heavy dews. 



The following examples of the truth of his general 

 statement, are found in the same work. 



TONGATABOO is an organic island, formed by coral, is 

 rich, fiat and luxuriant, and oppressed by a temperature 

 rising to 98 F., offering a mean, during the sojourn of 

 the expedition, of 79 25. There was much rain, and, 

 when clear, heavy dews. The writer supposes that these 

 phenomena must create sickness, but he sees many old 

 people, and admits that, although ashore at night, the 

 people of the expedition were not sufferers. Mr. Peale, 

 also, testifies to the good health of the place. 



OVOLAU (Fegee) is a volcanic island, the mean tempe- 

 rature of which, for six weeks, was 77 81; maximum, 

 96; minimum, 62. Turnips, radishes, and mustard 



