-Jala. Bermigan fell so dangerously ill, that a few days
sufficed to convince me there was no hope of saving him. I shall never
forget the fatal night: we were all assembled in the drawing-room,
grief and consternation were in every heart and pourtrayed in every
countenance; in an adjoining room a few short steps from us, we heard
the death-rattle of poor Bermigan, who had only a few minutes to
live. My excellent friend, Lafond, whom sickness had reduced almost
to the last stage, broke silence, and said: "Well! poor Bermigan goes
to-day, and in a few days, perhaps to-morrow, it will be my turn. Just
see! my dear Don Pablo; I may almost say that I no longer exist. Look
at my feet--my body! I am a mere skeleton; I can scarcely take any
food. Ah! it is better to be dead than live like this!"

I was so persuaded that his forebodings would not be delayed in being
realized, that I scarcely dared to utter the smallest consolation or
any hopes. Who could then have told me that he and I alone were to
survive all those who surrounded us, full of life and health? But,
alas! let us not here anticipate future events.

Poor Bermigan breathed his last. Our house at Jala-Jala was no longer
untouched by the hand of Death--a human being had expired therein;
and on the following day, in sadness and silence, we all proceeded
to the cemetery, to inter the body of our friend, and to render him
the last proofs of our respect. The body was laid at the foot of a
large cross, which is placed in the centre of the grave-yard. For
many days sadness and silence prevailed in our home at Jala-Jala.

Some time afterwards I had the gratification to see the efforts
I employed for my friend Lafond were successful. By means of the
strong remedies I administered his health was speedily restored, his
appetite returned, and he was soon able to set sail for France. He
is now residing in Paris, married to a woman possessed of every
quality necessary to make a man happy, and is the father of three
children. Holding an honourable position, and enjoying public esteem,
he has never forgotten the six months he spent at Jala-Jala, for
ingratitude never sullied his noble, loving, and devoted heart. A
sincere attachment still subsists between us, and I am happy thus to
assure him that he is, and ever will be, to me a valued friend. [16]

As I have now mentioned several persons who resided for some time at
Jala-Jala, I must not forget one of my colonists, Joachim Bal