470 DISEASE AND DEPRIVATION. 



render the climate far from salubrious for any portion 

 of the human family. But the fever, thus caused and 

 rendered virulent, is almost the only disease prevalent in 

 it. There is no consumption or scrofula, and but little 

 insanity. Smallpox and measles visited the country 

 some thirty years ago and cut off many, but they have 

 since made no return, although the former has been 

 almost constantly in one part or another of the coast. 

 Singularly enough, the people used inoculation for this 

 disease ; and in one village, where they seem to have 

 chosen a malignant case from which to inoculate the rest, 

 nearly the whole village was cut off. I have seen but 

 one case of hydrocephalus, a few of epilepsy, none of 

 cholera or cancer, and many diseases common in England 

 are here quite unknown. It is true that I suffered severely 

 from fever, but my experience cannot be taken as a fair 

 criterion in the matter. Compelled to sleep on the damp 

 ground month after month, exposed to drenching showers, 

 and getting the lower extremities wetted two or three 

 times every day, living on native food (with the exception 

 of sugarless coffee, dming the journey to the north and 

 the latter half of the return journey), and that food the 

 manioc-roots and meal, which contain so much uncom- 

 bined starch that the eyes become affected (as in the case 

 of animals fed on experiment on pure gluten or starch), 

 and being exposed during many hours each day in com- 

 parative inaction to the direct rays of the sun, the ther- 

 mometer standing above 96 ° in the shade — these consti- 

 tute a more pitiful hygiene than any missionaries who 

 may follow will ever have to endure. I do not mention 

 these privations as if I considered them to be " sacrifices," 

 for I think that the word ought never to be applied to 

 anything we can do for Him, who came down from heaven 

 and died for us ; but I suppose it is necessary to notice 

 them, in order that no unfavourable opinion may be formed 

 from my experience as to what that of others might be, 

 if less exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather and 

 change of diet. 



I believe that the interior of this country presents a 

 much more inviting field for the philanthropist than does 

 the west coast, where missionaries of the Church Missionary, 

 United Presbyterian, and other societies, have long 

 laboured with most astonishing devotedness and never- 

 rlagging zeal. There the fevers are much more virulent 



