VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. , 289 



widifd that this troOp might be drpffed and 

 armetl in fuch a manner as tg fpread fear 

 and terror am r>ng the Malegaches ; but hy 

 this he proved how little he was ac- 

 quainted with the chara£l:cr of thcfe people. 

 He then chofe the Bay of Antontril for the 

 place of his principal cftablifltment, thont^^h 

 that part of the country is ravaged and de- 

 folated hy pc'lilential fever3,from the month 

 of October to the beginning of May, Na- 

 vigators c ill that fatal feafnn the winter. 

 No doubt can be entertained that the nox- 

 ious vapours, which arife from the woods 

 and marfties, are the real cauJe of thefe epi- 

 demical difeafes. The inflammable air and 

 putrid exhalations, which proceed in abun- 

 dance (rom water in a ftate of ftagnation, 

 and corritpted by the remains of vegetables, 

 change the gootl quality of the atmofprieric 

 air, during calm weather or great heats. On 

 fuch occafiOM the air is fcldoni renewed by 



U . the 



