206 



THE GBUISE OF TEE ' CUBAQOA: 



during the other eight mouths, wliich are not unhealthy, 

 provided some precautious be taken. Since European 

 weapons and diseases have been introduced, there has been 

 a sensible decrease of the population. Tlie infant mortality 

 is considerable ; deatlis, too. occur fi-om sunstrokes, and 



NATIVES OF TAXNA. 



poisouings attrilnited to the flesli of certain fish. But the 

 greater part of the adults are slain in war, or massacred by 

 the killing stone. Small pox has visited the island, and 

 carried off a considerable number of the inhabitants. In 

 1861 measles destroyed about one-third of them. The sick 

 are well cared for; local bleeding is made use of in almost 



