374 Report on the Island of Chedooba. [No. 113. 



about 9 a.m., when an hour's calm is again succeeded by a breeze from the 

 nort-west. The change of temperature was found very great during this 

 season, between day and night, with the exercise of walking, the lightest 

 clothing was found most suitable during the day, but about two hours be- 

 fore sun set the temperature falls rapidly, and at night with the land 

 breeze blowing, two blankets and a counterpane were not too much to pre- 

 vent actual cold. This change must always be carefully met, by dressing 

 in woollen, a precaution which should never be omitted. 



The same peculiarity of atmosphere, which produces such ill effects 

 from exposure to the sun, may also be the occasion of a greater amount 

 of exhaustion (not fatigue) under the exercise of walking, which I expe- 

 rienced more in going over this Island, than I had ever previously found, 

 in the few other parts of India yet visited. A remedy for this feeling was 

 always found by application to the contents of a haversack, and the pre- 

 caution was always taken of not setting out on the day's journey without 

 the regular meal. It is not altogether from personal experience in this 

 particular, during so limited a time, that I would express the opinion, that 

 bodily exercise of any sort in this climate, requires for its support, at 

 least by the European constitution, a generous diet. In its corrobora- 

 tion, I was informed, that during the time of service, on this coast, of the 

 65th Regiment Native Infantry, a very fearful mortality took place 

 among the Sepoys, not so much from the actual violence of the prevalent 

 disease, the well known Arracan fever, as from the consequence of its 

 debilitating nature, from which the constitution of the Native would not 

 allow him to rally, though always assisted by liberality administering 

 strengthening medicine and means ; while to this mortality among the 

 privates, a strong contrast was exhibited in the constant good health of 

 all the officers, throughout the whole period of nearly two years, a con- 

 trast attributed by the medical, and other officers of the regiment to the 

 difference of diet of the two parties. During the exposure to which the 

 crew of the * Childers' were necessarily subjected in the execution of a 

 survey on the coast, many cases of the same fever occurred, at the present 

 time amounting to upwards of 60 in number, but of the parties so suffer- 

 ing there were but few who were not perfectly recovered, and at duty 

 again in 8 days, a circumstance which I incline to attribute mainly, not 

 only to the usual liberal allowance supplied to Her Majesty's seamen, but 

 also to the endeavours (fully appreciated) to supply the crew with as much, 

 and as great changes of good food as were, under circumstances, procurable. 



There must not be left out of view the great value of the facility of an 

 immediate application, on first symptoms, to a medical adviser afforded in 





