THE MORTALITY. 123 



them as much as possible on fresh provision ; to 

 employ them constantly, never allowing them to 

 be idle for a moment ; and, above all things, to 

 have music on board. My reason for giving this 

 advice is, that I consider a European in that 

 climate as placed in an unnatural position, and 

 that the only chance there is of saving him is by 

 stimulating him to the utmost, and preventing 

 his mind from sinking into that state of despond- 

 ency to which both the country and the climate 

 so fatally predispose it. As change of scene 

 is also a powerful stimulant, the greatest exer- 

 tion should be made to reach Eboe, which, with 

 coals for fuel and a fast steam-vessel, may be 

 done in forty-eight hours. I am aware that 

 this stimulating system cannot last ; but if it lasts 

 long enough to take the crew alive through the 

 swamps into the upper country, it will have 

 effected all that is w^anted, and can be gradually 

 relinquished. 



Mr. Lander's behaviour during our sickness 

 did him infinite credit. He was indefatigable in 

 his attention to the sick, and bled and blistered 

 the men as if he had been a regular licentiate. 

 The application of a blister over the head seemed 

 to give the greatest relief, and in my own case 



