.•^8 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



to look for the fource of miafma in putrefying vegeta^ 

 ble matte.r left on its banks. But its bottom and 

 banks were a llifFclay, affording little matter of this 

 kind ; and the prevailing winds from the beginning of 

 Odioher to the middle of November^ were the N W, 

 W N W, and N E, none of which could convey ex- 

 halations from the nullah. Therefore we are obliged 

 to look for fome other caufe of the prevailing epidemic, 

 and one am.ply fufiicient, I apprehend, will be found 

 in the want of cover, to prote6t the men againft the 

 fcorching heat of the day, and the chilly damps of 

 nio-ht. They themfelves at length became feniible of 

 the unhealthinefs of the Ipot, although they enter- 

 tained fuperftitious notions of its caufe, afcribing it to 

 the indignant manes of thofe who were flaughtered in 

 tlie battle formerly defcribed. At their requeft, fome 

 time in December^ the camp was removed into the 

 grove near Rana Kuan's garden, from which the crop 

 had, by this time, been carried otF. I was then in- 

 capable of obferving the effe(^s of this change, but 

 have been informed that the difeafe rapidly declined and 

 foon difappeared. This faft pleads llrongly in favour 

 of an opinion advanced by*Dr. Jackson, that clear 

 elevated fituations, notwithftanding the free circulation 

 of air, are, from unavoidable expofure to the morbid 

 caufes above enumerated,, lefs fiivourable to health, 

 than has been luppofed ; and that " inftead of danger, 

 there is faftey, in the llielter of wood." The queftion 

 is of the higlieft importance, the Do(51:or fupports his 

 argument with ability, and the whole paffage deferv^es 

 the moil ferious confideration of thofe who are en- 

 trufted with the clxdice of ground for tlie encamp- 

 ment of troops. 



The only complaint wliich I obferved to be en- 

 demial, was the Dracnnculus or Guinea worm, the 

 hiftory of which is too well known to require any 



^ TiCitiie oa the Fevers of J^;ixu\:a. Cliap. IV. p. 83—88- 



defcription 



