282 



blankets of the lleeping births ; and the 

 myriads of infects and vermin crawling about, 

 and making a public high-way of my body. 

 Rats and mice, cockroaches, mufquitoes, fleas, 

 > and ants formed only a part of the catalogue. 



You will believe that bn difcovering how 

 I was placed, I loft no time in attempting my 

 efcape from this wretched neft. But, on rifmg, 

 a violent and enfeebling ficknefs again feized 

 me, and from the caufes I have mentioned, it 

 was impolTible to remain upon deck ; I there- 

 fore made the experiment of (landing Li the 

 hatchway, with my head through the opening, 

 fo as to catch the paffing breeze ; but the in- 

 tenfe heat from the perpendicular rays of the 

 fun, and the death-like naufea and inceflant 

 reaching produced by the erect pofition, foon 

 chafed me from this wholefome ftation, and 

 left me only a choice of evils — either to extend 

 myfelf upon deck expofed to burning heat, at 

 the rifk of being rolled overboard into the fea; 

 or, again, to throw myfelf into the deadly bole 

 I had Left. The former of thefe meafures 

 almoft in l ured difeal.e — the latter threatened 

 a ppifonous fufFdcation, and the danger of 

 being devoured by vermin. 



