LETTER V.
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.