[ 2I 9 ] 
death are fo fuddenly exchanged, that medicines 
have not time very frequently to operate before the 
latter prevails. This is generally the cafe in malig- 
nant fevers, which are here termed packer fevers , 
meaning (in the natives language) ftrong fevers. 
The rains have let in lince the 4th of june. We call 
this the unhealthy feafon, on account ot the fait petre 
impregnated in the earth, which is exhaled by the 
fun, when the rain admits of intervals. Great lick— 
nefs is caufed thereby, efpecially when the rains fub- 
lide ; which generally happens about the middle of 
odtober. The air becomes afterwards rather more 
temperate, and, till april, permits of exercife, to recover 
the human frame that is relaxed and worn out by the 
preceding feafon; for in the hot periods every relief 
is denyed, except riling in the morning, and being 
on horfe back by day break, in order to enjoy an 
hour, or little more, before the fun is elevated: it 
becomes too powerfull by fix o’clock to withftand its 
influence ; nor can the fame be attempted that day 
again till the fun retires, fo that the reft of the twenty- 
four hours is paflfed under the moft fevere trials of heat. 
In fuch feafon it is impoflible to fleep under the fuf- 
focating heat that renders relpiration extremely 
difficult ; hence people get out into the virando’s and 
elfewhere for breath, where the dews prove cooling, 
but generally mortal to fuch as venture to fleep in that 
air. In fhort, this climate foon exhaufts a perfon s 
health and ftrength, though ever fo firm in confuta- 
tion, as is vifible in every countenance, after being 
here twelve months. I have been lately informed 
bv an officer of diftimftion, who was formerly engi- 
neer at this place, that he being fent out to furvey 
F f 2 a fait 
