446 Report on the Island of Chedocba. [No. 114. 



But it may be fair perhaps to increase the apparently small list, by the 

 admission that there exists a disease to a considerable extent, to which the 

 inhabitants of Chedooba are subject, and under which at every village we 

 found perhaps many sufferers, women as well as men, but chiefly the latter; 

 nor in any case though always coming forth to meet us, did it seem to be 

 looked on by either the parties themselves, or their friends as a case on 

 which to apply for commiseration or relief. 



1 Old age ' is very prevalent on the Is'and, and but few of the villages of 

 Chedooba but can produce more than one, often several, of their inhabitants 

 labouring under the affection of four score years or upwards ; many under 

 such burthen, hale, almost vi.orous, in mind and body. The party who 

 informed me of the period taken for the clothing of the N. W. plain 

 with verdure, and who had till 15 years old been in the habit of fishing 

 over it, when under the Sea, with his father by name Pallaree, and living 

 in the Inrooma circle, is generally looked on as the senior amongst these 

 * Appogee ' (a respectful term of address to old people). He claimed to 

 have run through 106 years, at which age he walked 12 or 13 miles in 

 order to meet us, and on being disappointed then walked back again (not 

 I believe the same day) ; when we did meet, it was after a walk of nearly 

 two miles, when he was certainly in body, rather shakey, but after a 

 short rest he recovered himself perfectly. His mind and memory were 

 perfectly sound, as also his hearing, and sight, his speech very slow, 

 but clear and distinct ; not a tooth in his head was gone or apparently 

 inclined to depart, and he was not only cheerful, but joking with all 

 around. He ridiculed my not being so old as his great-grandson, who 

 accompanied him, said that he had left off eating animal food but two 

 years since, and when questioned as to what had been his customary food 

 in ages by-gone, answered readily ' any thing even a part of a man if I 

 had wanted it, ' a confession which he only modified, to the laughter and 

 remark of the party around, by adding ' if it had been given as medicine,' 



1 know not whether it may be taken as evidence of the existence, to any 

 considerable extent, of another interesting disease in Qhedooba, to add 

 that Pallaree, entered into the bonds of matrimony with his last wife 



2 years ago. 



(Sd.) C. P. Halsted, 

 Commander, 



