LETTER FROM THE REV. G. H. NOBBS. 237 
from them. Unfortunately, the wind was from 
the north-west, and the atmosphere was very 
dense and heated, which acted as fuel to the 
contagion ; and so rapid was its progress, that 
in one week there were not ten persons capable 
of attending to their own wants. It was the 
most severe attack since 1840, the date of its 
first appearance among ns. 
" After an absence of nine days, the Portland 
returned ; and the people on board her observing 
a flag flying on the shore, supposed it to be an 
intimation that the surf was too heavy to admit 
of boats landing, and the vessel was in the very 
act of sailing away, when they providentially 
observed our boat coming off. On their making 
known to the Admiral our sad condition, he 
humanely lay by all night (it being very late 
when our boat got on board), and in the morn- 
ing sent Captain Chads and his Secretary, with 
one of the ship's surgeons, to our assistance. As 
my small stock of tea and sugar was almost 
exhausted by imparting to those that had none, 
the Admiral sent on shore a good supply, and 
the officers also contributed biscuits and other 
necessaries. I attribute the severity with which 
the disease was felt to the debilitated state of 
the community, owing to the scarcity of food 
which prevailed for some months prior to my 
arrival ; when they had been reduced to great 
straits, in consequence of the want of rain, which 
had prevented their planting their usual crop of 
sweet potatoes. It was for some weeks almost 
actual starvation ; their only resource being 
half-grown pumpkins. My dear wife, while 
