10 



I took occafion to note to you in a for- 

 mer letter that the nakednefs of the flaves was 

 perhaps their greateft fecurity againft difeafe : 

 but in addition to their being without clothes, 

 they are compelled to remain conftantly upon 

 deck in the day-time ; and are encouraged to 

 exercife and amufement : their fleeping places 

 are completely warned cut as foon as they quit 

 them ; and no fpecies of baggage, nor cloth- 

 ing — not a bundle, nor any article of bed- 

 ding — not even a fingle blanket, nor a meet, 

 nor any kind of thing that can create filth, 

 or colled impurities is admitted. Ventila- 

 tion and wafhing are flridly obferved, and 

 the flaves are encouraged, or compelled to 

 cleanlinefs of perfon : and, together with thefe 

 means, perhaps their fimple diet of vegetables 

 and water may greatly contribute, by dimi- 

 nishing the predifpofition, and leflening the 

 fufceptibility of difeafe. 



Hence it would feem that cleanlinefs, 

 exercife, cheerfulnefs, a fimple diet, and free 

 expofure to the atmofphere are the great 

 preventives of ficknefs — and that by a ftridl 

 obfervance of thefe means the flaves make 

 the voyage, from Africa to the Weft Indies, 



