La Bourgade, July 30.
After addressing my last letter to you, I was called from Berbische,
somewhat suddenly, in consequence of a rapid increase of sickness among
the troops in the colony of Demarara.
The necessity for my immediate attendance here, leaving me no choice
with regard to my mode of travelling, I embarked on board the first
vessel that sailed, and which proved to be nearly allied to the
memorable Voltigeur. But, although I was very ill accommodated, I was
not exposed to the multiplied evils of my former voyage; and,
fortunately, had to support the discomforts only for a single night.
I was put safe on shore the second day, at one of the landing-places at
Stabroek, which are here called _Sterlings_. They are long wooden
platforms, which are built on pillars of timber, and extend to a
considerable distance into the river, forming very convenient stations
for descending into the boats, and landing from them.
Having mentioned the cause of my return to this colony, you will expect
that the predictions of the inhabitants of these settlements are about
to be verified; I may therefore observe to you, that the busy season of
duty which they led me to anticipate, has stolen upon me, “like a thief
in the night.” The number of sick, and the malignity of the disease have
greatly augmented, and it seems probable that very few, if any of the
troops will escape its attack. From ten to fifteen have been received
into the hospital, in fever, within the twenty-four hours, for several
days in succession; and we have remarked that great numbers have been
seized while employed on duty as sentinels.
I have visited the fort, and examined very minutely into the habits of
the soldiers, and the general economy of the garrison, in order to
ascertain whether any cause existed there, to which this rapid increase
of sickness could be attributed: but I met with nothing that could
explain it, for although the men have lately received a payment of
clearance-money, it by no means appears, that spirituous liquors have
been used to any degree that could excite a suspicion of this being the
cause of the multiplied sickness which prevails. It is, probably, the
mere effect of the season, resulting from the greater heat of the days,
the damp chilliness of the evenings, and the offensive miasmata exhaled
from half-exposed mud.
The quantity of rain that now falls is not sufficient to cover the
feculent sediment of the numerous ditches, nor to prevent their
unwholesome vapours from rising into the atmosphere; and the partial
showers which occur during the evening and night, by softening the
half-dried surface, favor the exhalation, while they produce a chilling
dampness, which perhaps contributes to render the body more than usually
susceptible of impression.
The evenings are now so much colder, to our feelings, than we found them
in the preceding months, that we have lately been able to sit with the
room-door shut, and have even thought that a blanket, during the night,
might have been supportable. Yet the thermometer indicates no
considerable diminution of heat in the evening, and but a very slight
augmentation at noon. Hence it is probable, that the increased
susceptibility of the system may proceed from some change in the state
of the body, not exclusively depending upon the mere effect of heat and
cold. But you will not forgive me if I engage in hypothetical
disquisitions. I will content myself therefore with having related to
you the facts, and without offering doubtful inferences, leave you to
form your own conclusions.