THE GULF OF MEXICO FEVER. 391 



July 25 th, during a perfect calm, I jumped over- 

 board to bathe in the crystal waters. A more de- 

 lightful feeling is hardly to be described than that of 

 diving, swimming, splashing in the warm waters of the 

 gulf; it almost seemed impossible to sink, the body 

 being so buoyant in the salt water. I felt a longing 

 desire to become a dolphin in the transmigration of 

 souls, and to settle in the gulf of Mexico. I remained 

 in the water till I was quite tired, and was obliged to 

 lie down. Moreover, sea bathing never agreed with 

 me, and on the morrow I felt rather unwell. In New 

 Orleans I was not quite right, but would not take any 

 .medicine ; now I thought it was time to do so, and 

 swallowed a dose of tartar emetic I had had the pre- 

 caution to bring with me, mixing in it a glass of 

 Madeira. The dose was rather strong, and its effect 

 excessive ; yet I was better after it. 



On the 28th and 29th July, two sharks were caught, 

 and eaten ; but I could not join in the feast, for I was 

 now really ill with a fever, and sharp pains in the 

 chest, and every movement was attended with great 

 suffering. There was also cause for disquietude, in five 

 sailors being taken ill, and their disease assuming an 

 extraordinary character. 



One evening as I was lying shaded from the moon- 

 beams, I heard the mate talking with the American 

 passenger, who was also unwell, and he told him, in a 

 friendly way, that before we were clear of the gulf, 

 at least five men would have to be sewn up in sail- 

 cloth and dropped overboard ; and among them he 

 named my worthy self. This was rather more than a 

 joke ; after escaping all the dangers and toils of the 



