120 March 1749. 



could recollect, were ftarved to death in cold 

 winters ; except, in later years, fuch cattle 

 as were lean, and had no ftables to retire 

 into. It commonly does not rain, neither 

 more nor lefs, in fummer than it did former- 

 ly ; excepting that, during the lafl years, 

 the fummers have been more dry. Nor 

 could the old Swede find a diminution 

 of water in brooks, rivers, and fwamps. 

 He allowed, as a very common and certain 

 facl, that wherever you dig wells, you meet 

 with oyfter-fhells in the ground. 



The old Gujlafson was of opinion, that 

 intermitting fevers were as frequent and 

 violent formerly as they are now; but that 

 they feerned more uncommon, becaufe there 

 were fewer people at that time here. When 

 he got this fever, he was not yet full grown. 

 He got it in fummer, and had it till the en- 

 fuingfpring, which is almoh: a year; but it 

 did not hinder him from doing his work, 

 either within or out of doors. Pkurify 

 likewife attacked one or two of the Swedes 

 formerly ; but it was not near fo common 

 as it is now. The people in general were 

 very healthy at that time. 



Some years ago, the old Swede's eyes 

 were fo much weakened that he was forced 

 to make ufe of a pair of fpectacles. He 

 then got a fever j which was fo violent, 



that 



