154 
THE SMOKES. 
west coast, only resembles it in one point — tlie extreme 
dryness of the air. It is the most unhealthy season of 
the year at Clarence, and no one escaped its effects. 
Messrs. White, Hensman, and Lindsleger, old and 
well-seasoned residents on the island, were laid up 
with active fever ; Mr. Roscher the mineralogist, and 
Dr. Vogel the indefatigable botanist, who had 
remained behind, determined to brave all dangers in 
prosecuting their respective departments of science, 
were also sufferers, the latter from a severe attack of 
dysentery in its worst form: John Huxley, the sick 
attendant, commenced with fever ; and even Mr. 
Thomson, left in charge of the sick, whose constitution 
had been proof against the climate of the river, his 
service in the fever-impregnated ‘Soudan’, and a con- 
tinued residence of two months on shore, did not 
escape without a febrile attack of an intermittent 
character. 
Nothing could be more debilitating than the effect 
of these “ smokes” on European constitutions ; and the 
feeling of unconquerable anxiety and nervousness was 
very distressing. 
December ^nd . — Last night the incessant flashing 
of vivid lightning portended the coming tornado, 
which early this morning broke over the island with 
terrific force, threatening to tear down the crazy 
wooden buildings, which rattled in anything but an 
agreeable manner, especially Mr. Hensman’s, situated 
as it was, rather too close to the high cliffs : with the 
