Memoir of Charles Alexander Lesueur. 195 



tions of man. Bat there is a counterpoise to these enjoyments 

 in a temperature of the most enervating kind, which deranges 

 the vital functions, and facilitates the approach of that scourge of 

 the Indian- isles, the dysentery. The natives of Asiatic descent 

 generally escape this disease, by their habitual use of stimulating 

 food, and that powerful tonic, betel But the Europeans, and the 

 Americans, who visit those shores, soon become subject to its at- 

 tacks ; and in some instances the entire crews of vessels have 

 been swept off m a few weeks.* 



Peron, who paid particular attention to the dietetic habits of 

 the Malays of Timor, and their constant use of betel, became 

 convinced of the influence of condiments and tonics in counter- 

 acting the malignant effects of the climate. He hence resolved 

 to conform to customs which were evidently the results of ob- 

 servation; and he owed his preservation from the dysentery to 

 this sensible determination. But his advice and example not be- 

 ing heeded by others, the disease made frightful ravages amon 

 the crews of the ships; many of the officers were ill; and of 

 the scientific men nearly the whole were affected by it. The 

 chief gardener died at the island ; two of the zoologists, a min- 

 eralogist, and an assistant gardener, survived but a short time after 

 their departure. Mr. Lesueur, after recovery from the accident, 

 as related above, pursued his labors with renewed ardor. Peron 

 warned him of the danger of rashly exposing himself in such a 

 climate, without those precautions which the experience of the 

 natives had taught them. But relying too much upon the vigor 

 of his constitution, he at length became a participant of the com- 



mon calamity. He was still sick when the ships left Coepang; 

 but through the exertions of the physicians, and the unremitting 

 attention of Peron, he was restored' to health before their arrival 

 on the shores of New Holland. 



It now became evident that a longer stay in that unhealthy 

 climate would occasion the entire destruction of the expedition ; 

 hence orders were issued for their departure. On the 13th 

 of November they got under weigh, for Van Diemens Land. 

 Their sojourn at Timor had been prolonged to eighty-four days. 

 ' ; A sacrifice of tune," says Peron, " the death of many individu- 

 als, the great inconvenience of having on board of the two ves- 

 sels a large number of sick, were the deplorable results of this 

 long sojourn. 7 ' 



On the 13th of January, 1802, the ships reached the southern 

 extremity of Van Diemens Land, and commenced their explora- 

 tions of that coast, and the adjacent eastern islands. Off Cape 

 ^orestier, the Naturaliste was separated from her consort m a 



