264 MORTALITY IN THE COLUMBINE. 



after having lost most of their men. The only 

 other vessel that had entered the river, was a 

 Spanish slaver from the Havannah, that in a 

 few days lost fifteen of the crew. Mr. Oldfield 

 himself had suffered from fever ; but he had re- 

 covered, and was now in good health and look- 

 ing well, and from the severe seasoning he had 

 undergone, would, I had no doubt, remain so. 

 At the mouth of the river his time had been 

 passed most monotonously, and from his de- 

 scription, even our own situation must have been 

 far more preferable. Captain Mitchell and two 

 seamen had fallen victims to the climate, and the 

 others had all suffered more or less from fever. 

 Leaving me to peruse my letters, they returned 

 on board the Alburkah. Mr. Lander had the 

 kindness to send me two bottles of Port wine, 

 one gallon of brandy, and some tea and flour, 

 which he had brought up the river. Accom- 

 panied by Lieutenant Allen, Mr. Lander and Mr. 

 Oldfield came on board to dinner, and with true 

 professional delight the latter set to work upon 

 me. He at once pronounced my complaint to 

 be an inveterate itch, aggravated by the exces- 

 sive debility of the whole system ; and com- 

 menced his operations by dressing the ulcers 



