CHAP. IV. CHOLERA IN PORT LOUIS. Ill 



flowers, and on others, vases and different vessels are placed 

 and filled with flowers of the amaranthine species, which are 

 frequently renewed. Amongst the graves suggestive of deep 

 interest to me, I noticed that of Harriet Newel, wife of one of 

 the first missionaries from America to India. A plain marble 

 slab, sent from her native country, covers her remains, which 

 rest near the trunk of a large filao tree, Casuarina equiseti- 

 folia. A light iron railing surrounds the stone. 



As the season favourable for visiting Madagascar was now 

 approaching, I sent a letter on the 9th of May to the autho- 

 rities at Antananarivo, informing them of my intention to 

 proceed to Tamatave in the course of a month, and asking 

 permission to visit the capital. 



But some degree of apprehension began about this time 

 to be felt by the inhabitants, in consequence of two cases 

 of Asiatic cholera having occurred at Grande Riviere, two 

 miles from the town. Two vessels from India had recently 

 arrived with Indian labourers on board, among whom, it was 

 reported, this disease existed. 



Prompt measures were taken by the government and the 

 municipality to arrest the progress of the disease and to mi- 

 tigate its force. The prisoners in the jail, among whom the 

 first cases in the town had appeared, were removed on board 

 vessels in the outer harbour, hired for the occasion, and other 

 sanitary measures were adopted. Still the cases continued 

 to increase in number. The average deaths in Port Louis 

 had been seventy in the course of a month, but before the 

 end of another month they exceeded that number daily. On 

 the 28th of May there were eighty-six deaths, and one hun- 

 dred and three interments. The weather at this time was 

 extremely sultry, with a westerly wind. It was said 10,000 

 persons had fled from Port Louis during the previous two 

 days. The weather subsequently became somewhat cooler; 

 but still the ravages of the cholera increased. 



