1^6 



NARRATIVE OF AN 



c H A P. had been reported, that his inebriety had proceeded from 



his refentment at feeing both me and Joanna ill treated, 

 and rny property tranfported away againft his inclina- 

 tion. I was now extremely chagrined at my paft con- 

 du6l, and was gently reproved by the caufe of it, to 

 whom I promifed to be Fowler's friend for ever after-— 

 and I kept my word. My fever was now much abated, 

 but I was infefted with another diforder peculiar to this 

 climate, and which I am afraid I ihall but indifferently 

 jdefcribe : it is called in Surinam the ring-worm, and 

 confifts of long fcarlet irregular fpots, particularly on the 

 under parts of the body, which increafe in magnitude 

 from day to day, unlefs prevented by timely applica- 

 tion. Thofe fpots are furrounded with a kind of hard 

 callous border, and are as troublefome by their itching 

 as the prickly heat, or the fling of the mufquitoes ; and 

 fo very infectious is this complaint, that if any perfbn 

 feats himfelf by chance on a chair immediately after an- 

 other who has the diforder, he is almofl certain to be 

 infe6led with it : it is, I believe, very difhcult to get rid 

 of ,; but the belt cure is to rub the fpots with a compoli- 

 tion of refined falt-petre, benzoin, flower of brimftone, 

 and white mercury, mixed with frefh butter or hog's- 

 lard. The numerous inconveniencies to which the inha- 

 bitants of this climate are expofed, are almofl incon- 

 ceivable. 



On the 26th I had a relapfe, and was twice bled in one 

 day. I was alfo this morning viiited by poor Mr. Hena- 



man. 



