DEATH OF DR. BllIGGS. 179 



my stupor by the death of my dear friend and 

 companion Dr. Briggs. On the 27th he was 

 brought up from the cabin, and I was shocked 

 to see the ravages which a few days' suffering had 

 made on him. He had never been much reduced 

 by his repeated attacks of fever ; but now so altered 

 was he, that I scarcely knew him. While shaking 

 hands with me, he assured me, with a weak but 

 cheerful voice, that he felt better, and forgetting 

 his own sufferings, anxiously inquired after mine. 

 We lay side by side for some hours, and he 

 pressed me much to go down into the cabin, as 

 he considered passing the evenings on deck very 

 unhealthy ; but I was incapable of moving my- 

 self, and afraid of being carried, my bones being 

 very prominent and excessively painful when 

 touched. At sunset he was carried down, being 

 then in severe pain, and I bade him farewell* 

 little thinking it was for the last time. 



On the 28th the pain suddenly left him ; on 

 which he told Hector and Sarsfield, who were at- 

 tending him, that mortification had commenced, 

 desiring them at the same time not to tell me of 

 it till all was over. Soon after he expired with- 

 out a struggle, tranquilly yielding his spirit to 

 Him who gave it. 



N 2 



