Cuar. XXL] ATTACK OF FEVER. 387 
These vessels never go to sea in stormy weather, 
even if the wind is fair; and, what with gales of 
wind and negotiations with mandarins, I was 
obliged to content myself with a junk life for a 
fortnight at the mouth of the river. 
As long as I enjoyed health I got on well enough ; 
but the exposure during the past summer, particu- 
larly at Foo-chow-foo, had gradually undermined 
my constitution; and the fever, which was pro- 
bably kept off for a certain time by bodily exertion, 
now seized me, and compelled me to take to my 
cot, where I lay for a number of days insensible at 
intervals. At times, when consciousness returned, 
I certainly thought that my travels were drawing 
to a close, and that my grave would be a lonely 
one on the banks of the Min. It seemed hard for 
me to die in a land of strangers, without a friend 
or countryman to close my eyes, or follow me to 
my last resting-place ; and home, friends, and coun- 
try, how doubly dear did they seem to me then! 
_ The wind haying been fair for several days, and 
the weather appearing settled, the captain of the 
junk came down to the place where I lay, and told — 
me they intended to sail on the following morning. 
He again inquired if I had my gun and pistols in 
proper order, and plenty of powder and ball. Still 
imagining that they were exaggerating the dangers 
of the voyage, I laughed, and said, * Do not be 
afraid; I have every thing in order, and I will un- 
dertake to beat off any pirates who may attack us.” 
Nevertheless, I clearly saw that both captain and 
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