32 



time we came on the coasts : the thermometer 

 kept regularly during the night between twenty- 

 two and twenty-three degrees, and during the 

 day from twenty-four to twenty-seven. The 

 congestions toward the head, excessive dryness 

 of the skin, extreme weakness, all the symptoms 

 grew more alarming ; but having almost reach- 

 ed the end of our voyage, we flattered ourselves, 

 that all who were sick would be restored to 

 health, as soon as we could land them at the isle 

 of St. Margaretta, or the port of Cumana, dis- 

 tinguished for their great salubrity. 



This hope was not altogether realized. The 

 youngest of the passengers attacked with the 

 malignant fever was happily the first and only 

 victim. He was an Asturian, nineteen years of 

 age, the only son of a poor widow. Several cir- 

 cumstances rendered the death of this young 

 man affecting. His features bore the marks of 

 sensibility, and a great mildness of disposition ; 

 he had embarked against his inclination, and 

 his mother, whom he had hoped to assist by the 

 produce of his labors, had sacrificed her own 

 tenderness to the idea of securing the fortune of 

 her son 5 by sending him to the colonies to a rich 

 relation, who resided at the isle of Cuba. The 

 unfortunate young man expired the third day of 

 his illness, having fallen from the beginning into 

 a lethargic state interrupted by fits of delirium. 

 The yellow fever, or black vomiting, at Vera 



