120 OBSERVATIONS ON 



well. Last night, about ten o'clock, Johnson, a 

 mulatto fireman, died ; and in the morning Cap- 

 tain Robert Miller was found dead in his bed : 

 he had expired so calmly, that no one was 

 aware that his spirit had fled. Johnson died of 

 epilepsy succeeding his fever, which had been 

 but slight. Mr. Lander buried them both on the 

 west bank of the river." 



As the awful mortality detailed in the preced- 

 ing account has few parallels, and though aware 

 that the opinion of a non-professional man is of 

 little importance, yet, being placed as I was in a 

 situation of no common responsibility, I consider 

 it right to state, first, the precautions taken to 

 prevent sickness; secondly, the predisposing 

 causes from which I think it originated ; and, 

 thirdly, the course which the experience I have 

 acquired enables me to recommend to persons in 

 similar expeditions. 



First. — The precautions taken were, (with the 

 advice and concurrence of Dr. Briggs,) immedi- 

 ately on entering the river to spread the double 

 awnings fore and aft the vessel ; the sides of the 

 vessel were raised by canvass to a height of eight 

 feet from the main deck ; chloride of lime was 

 daily sprinkled in the forecastle and cabin, and 



