THE MORTALITY. 121 



upon the decks. White men were never allowed 

 to work from under the awnings, and on no ac- 

 count permitted to sleep exposed to the dew. 

 Their diet consisted of the navy allowance, coffee 

 being substituted for cocoa every alternate day, 

 and fresh meat when it was to be had ; their 

 allowance of spirits was one glass of rum per day ; 

 those who preferred it had brandy in its place ; 

 no palm-wine or other intoxicating liquor of the 

 natives was allowed to be brought on board, and 

 little if any was smuggled ; in addition, they had 

 a cup of strong coffee served out to them at day- 

 break. A few of them were on shore for a few 

 hours at Eboe, in charge of the mate ; and, with 

 that exception, they were altogether on board 

 their vessel. 



Secondly. — The principal predisposing causes 

 were, in my opinion, the sudden change from the 

 open sea to a narrow and winding river, the 

 want of the sea-breeze, and the prevalence of the 

 deadly miasma to which we were nightly exposed 

 from the surrounding swamps. The horrid sick- 

 ening stench of this miasma must be experienced 

 to be conceived : no description of it can con- 

 vey to the mind the wretched sensation that is 

 felt for some time before and after daybreak. 



