FEB. 1771 DEATHS AT SEA 427 



29th. Three more of the people died this day. 



30th. For the first time I found myself better and slept 

 some time, which my continual pains had never suffered me 

 to do before notwithstanding the opiates which were con- 

 stantly administered. One person only died to-day, but so 

 weak were the people in general that, officers and men 

 included, there were not more than eight or nine could keep 

 the deck ; so that four in a watch were all they had. 



31st. This day I got out of my bed in good spirits and 

 free from pain, but very weak ; my recovery had been as 

 rapid as my disease was violent ; but to what cause to attri- 

 bute either the one or the other we were equally at a loss. 

 The wind, which went to E. and S.E. yesterday, blew to-day 

 in the same direction, so we had little reason to doubt its 

 being the true trade, a circumstance which raised the spirits 

 of even those who were most afflicted with the tormenting 

 disease which now raged with its greatest violence. 



1st February. Fine brisk trade kept up our spirits and 

 helped to raise me fast : two of the people died to-day, 

 nevertheless. 



2nd. Breeze continued to-day: the surgeon began to 

 think that the rapid progress of the disease was checked by 

 it, but declared at the same time that several people were 

 still almost without hopes of recovery. 



3rd. Some of the people who were least affected began 

 now to show signs of amendment, but two of the worst 

 died notwithstanding. 



6th. One more died to-day. Those of our people who 

 were not very bad before the 1st of this month had now 

 almost universally recovered ; but there were still several in 

 the ship who at that time were very bad. These remained 

 unalterably the same, neither becoming better nor worse. 

 Throughout the whole course of this distemper medicine has 

 been of little use, the sick generally proceeding gradually to 

 their end without a favourable symptom, till the change of 

 weather instantaneously stopped in a manner the malignant 

 quality of the disease. 



llth. One more of our people died. 



