ed at Onrust, and I made
application to the governor and council for a passage to Europe
in that vessel: on this, the captain of the packet was ordered to
receive me, for which I paid 190 rix-dollars into the company's
chest. The order to the captain specified, that in consideration
of that sum being paid, I was to have a passage to Europe in the
Snelheid, and to be accommodated and victualled as a sailor: I
therefore found myself necessitated to make a further agreement
with the captain for the use of half of his cabin, (Mr. Andrew
Millar, late commissary of stores and provisions at Port Jackson
having the other half) for which I was to pay him 300
rix-dollars, and my proportion of what provisions were laid in by
him, above what the company allowed.

Being informed that the packet would be dispatched in a few
days, I went to Onrust on the 31st, in order to be in readiness.
Lieutenant Ball expected to sail for Port Jackson on the 8th of
August, and the snow which he had taken up was to be dispatched
on the 24th.

The captain of the packet having received his final orders, we
sailed from Onrust on the 4th of August; and in the evening of
the 5th, were clear of the streights of Sunda.

It was now that the pestiferous air of Batavia began to show
itself; for the vessel had not been five days at sea before six
men were taken ill with the putrid fever; and very soon
afterwards, the captain, his two mates, and all the sailors,
except four, were incapable of getting out of their beds; and
what aggravated the horror of this situation was, that the
surgeon, who indeed knew very little of his profession, was so
ill that he could not even help himself.

In this dilemma, I found it absolutely necessary to use every
means for self-preservation; and having obtained the consent of
the captain (who was not yet delirious) and the chief mate, I
spoke to the only four men who were well, and represented to
them, that going below would subject them to the infection; I
assured them that I would never go below myself, except on
extraordinary occasions, when I should use every precaution
against the infection; and I further observed, that the
preservation of our lives and the vessel, with the recovery of
those who were sick, depended on their conforming to my orders;
and that I hoped, with God's assistance, not only to preserve
them in health, but to get the vessel into a port.

They promised me implicit obedience, and I began to make