AFRICA- 39 
tills malady attacked themfooner than others: 
at prefent they are very much fubjed to it. 
As this diftemper was brought to the Cape 
by fome veflels from Europe, the Company's 
furgeons are always fent to examine with the 
Utmoft care fuch fhips as arrive in the roads. 
On the leaft appearance of infeftion, the crew 
are rigoroufly interdicted from having any 
communication with the town or its inhabi- 
tants ; and an embargo is laid on the goods, 
no part of which, however fmall, is fuffered 
to be brought on fhore. Were it difcovered 
that a captain had found means to conceal 
this diforder on board of his fhip, he and his 
officers would be immediately degraded, and 
condemned to pay a very heavy fine, if the 
veflel belonged to the Company. I include 
the officers'^ becaufe, as each of them is obliged 
to anfwer for that part of the veflel which 
concerns him, it would not be poffible to con- 
ceal the infedlion without the knowledge and 
unanimous confent of the crew. Did the fhip 
belong to a foreign power, nothing qould fave 
it from confifcation. 
The wet feafon begins generally towards 
the end of April: and the rains are more 
P 4 abundant 
