( 39° ) 



The Inhabitants of this, and the 

 neighbouring Dutch Colonies, are per- 

 haps of all others moft afflided with 

 diforders arifing from Worms in the fto- 

 mach and inteftines, particularly the 

 Slaves, with whom they abound in fuch 

 numbers as to an European would ap- 

 pear incredible. The caufe of this un^ 

 common production is by fome attribu- 

 ted to verminous animalcule generated 

 in the furrounding waters of the low 

 country, which, during the dry feafon* 

 ftagnate, corrupt, and putrefy ; though 

 I think it may be more juftly affigned 

 to the crude indigeftible diet, with 

 which the Slaves are fed, which con- 

 fids chiefly of Plantins and Bananoes, 

 but efpecially the former, which, when 

 ripe, are ufually eaten raw, efpecially 

 by the children, by whom they can be 

 but ill digefted. But from whatever 

 caufe they are produced, their number 

 is fo great, that the ufual remedies are 



very 



c 



