9A0 
Small pox Reaches the Rupununi. 
of the chief, who had come here in the hope of obtaining a remedy from 
us, tlie disease had been introduced into his vilhige through some 
Indians who had accompanied the boat Avith the military to Georgetown. 
Although small-pox, at tlie time of our departure from the coast, was 
rampant among the ^Varraus and Arawaks, we nevertlieless never believed 
that it would be carried so far inland. There was therefore unfor- 
tunately cause for fearing that the frightful epideuiic would spread itself 
still more over the interior and yet further reduce the population 
already naturally scanty enough, because, owing to the nonsensical 
treatment adopted, barely two escape witli their lives out of every ten 
affected. As in the case of measles they drench the small-pox patients 
during the most acute febrile stage with water, a procedure from which, 
in spite of all our protestations we could never wean them.* The 
earnest entreaty of the chief to give him medicine for his sick people, 
and the resolute faith in which he hoped for certain relief from it, 
certainly put us in a dilemma but nevertheless induced us to give him a 
little powder, which could neither harm nor heal, for each of his patients: 
we doubly Impressed on him the importance of discarding the hitherto 
practised senseless method of treatment, and of protecting the sick from 
all draughts and chills. The piaiman of the village who, on the outbreak 
of the scourge, continued his incantations day and night, Avas the first 
to fall a victim to the disease. 
547. We could not expect ray brother back before the beginning of 
April and the oppressive scarcity of provisions would have proved still 
more trying had not the former villagers' respect for Mr. Youd guarded 
against it. In spite of its being universally known that their friend was 
dead, they had nevertheless carefully harvested his well-stocked maize- 
field and warehoused the product in his house. This abundant supply 
was all the more welcome l)ecause owing to the previous eontinual 
requisitioning of the military all the provision fields in and around 
Pirara had l»een exhausted. 
548. We had noticed soon after our return that Rt()ckle was getting 
weary of this hand-to-mouth existence. The fellow, so cheerful before, 
now became intolerable, and really seemed to be seeking an opportunity 
to give us notice and return to Georgetown. The opportunity sought for 
soon presented itself. Mr. Fryer had given hiui a severe I'eprimand, and 
as his contract would be expiring a few days later, he told us that ho 
wanted to get home. Grieved as I was to see so otherwise honest a 
fellow going, I had to let him have his own way. In the company of two 
Indians he went to Haiowa, from where some others Inought him to 
Warapnta : there, as we learnt subsequently, he met my brother and Mr. 
Bernau, the latter taking him with him to Dartika Grove. Had the silly 
fellow only waited a few weeks longer he could have travelled to George- 
town in my brother's return boat for nothing, but every hour he remained 
longer than necessary made him the more afraid of wavering in his reso- 
lution. 
* The practice of using cold baths for fever is not so unreasonable as might appear, 
and is even now carried out and highly spoken of in the treatment of Enteric, (F.G.K.) 
