THE ISLAND OF JAVA. 179 
But the great mortality of Europeans in Batavia is by no 
means confined to the troops and the seamen. An extra- 
ordinary instance of the fatal effects of the climate, even 
among the seasoned Europeans, is related by Mr. Thunberg. 
Towards the end of the year 1775, he dined at the table of 
his friend Dr. Hoffman, in company with thirteen persons, 
all of whom, on his return from Japan in the month of January 
1777, had paid the debt of nature, except the doctor and 
himself. I heard a young lady say that, in the course of ten 
.months after their arrival, out of eleven persons of w]iicli her 
family consisted, her father, brother, and six sisters had fallen 
a sacrifice to the noxious air of Batavia We had indeed, in our 
^ OAvn instance, a fatal proof of the malignancy of this climate. - 
Notwithstanding every precaution that was taken for pre- 
serving the health of the crew, a dysentery accompanied with 
typhous fever was here brought on board, which continued with 
more or less severity during the remaining part of the voyage. 
We had not lost a man on our arrival at this place, but from 
hence to the end of the voyage there died not fewer than 
fifty men. 
Of the 115,960 inhabitants of Batavia and its neighbour- 
hood the mortality is rarely less than 4000 souls. The account 
is probably not kept with much accuracy, but the following 
numbers of the several classes of inhabitants may be consi- 
dered as pretty nearl}^ the truth. 
Deaths. 
Dutch, half-cast and families - 79^ being 9 per cent. 
Chinese - - - 7^9 3^ 
Natives and Malays - - 1485 2^ 
Slaves - - - 1326 7| ' ' 
Deaths in one year 4376 in 115,960 
