BAHIA. 
45 
the lover of nature, are manifest at every turn in the surroundings of Bahia ; and the traveller 
only accustomed to the modest sylvan beauties of northern lands finds himself face to face 
with the splendours of the tropical forest. No longer, as in colder climes, bestowing her 
bounties with jealous hand—often wholly withholding the long-desired boon, 
“ Nature here 
Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will 
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, 
Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss.” 
The English residents and the authorities of San Salvador were making preparations 
for a ball in honour of the “Challenger” Expedition, when a case of disease occurred 
amongst our crew, and was pronounced by the doctors to be the much-dreaded yellow fever. 
Preparations were made for immediate departure, and thus the pleasant social relations which 
CAMPO GRANDE, SAN SALVADOR. 
had been established with the inhabitants and with the officers of the U.S.S. “ Lancaster,” 
anchored close beside us, came to an abrupt termination. During our stay, however, the 
amateurs of cricket on board and on shore had succeeded in arranging several matches. These 
came off on the Campo Grande, a fine open space surrounded by villas, and situated in the 
fashionable suburb which overlooks the bay to the eastward. 
In the afternoon of the 25th September, H.M.S. “ Challenger ” once more resumed her 
course over the blue wmters. Every effort was made with sail and steam to reach cooler 
latitudes with as little delay as possible. The patient first attacked had been transferred to 
the hospital on shore; but, another suspicious case having presented itself, a temporary 
hospital was rigged on the after-deck, fully exposed to the breeze. It is well known how long 
the germs of yellow fever will linger on board a vessel once attacked. Happily the man 
recovered shortly after our departure, and we were not sorry to feel that the spectre of disease 
and death—whose presence is more awful in the little world between decks than elsewhere 
