338 MY ILLNESS. 



three doses every six hours. In about seventy- 

 six hours after the attack, I became delirious, 

 and was informed that I continued so for nearly 

 a fortnight, attempting to throw myself over- 

 board ; a feat which I once had nearly perform- 

 ed, and was only prevented effecting my design 

 by the watch on deck. I continued in a very 

 precarious state for twenty-nine days, during 

 which time I took nothing but water, with a 

 little biscuit soaked in it. 



In six weeks I became convalescent, and was 

 much indebted to Mr. Robb, the chief mate, 

 who paid me great attention during my illness. 

 To such a low state had I been reduced, that it 

 was nearly three months before I could walk ; 

 but it pleased the Almighty to preserve me, and 

 after this severe fit of sickness, during which I had 

 been several times at death's door, when I re- 

 covered, I enjoyed better health than I ever en- 

 joyed in England. I was troubled with attacks of 

 intermittent fever ; and before I reached England, 

 upwards of two years afterwards, I had had more 

 than one hundred attacks of it : but this was no- 

 thing compared with jungle fever. As I was 

 recovering, one of the men of the Columbine was 

 taken ill ; and although I was obliged to be sup- 



