a
tent on the after part of the quarter deck, for us to lie under.
I had great difficulty to make them relinquish the drams of new
arrack, of which they got ten a day; but this was effected, and
in lieu of it, I gave to each man three large wine glasses of
port wine, with two tea-spoons full of bark in each glass:
fortunately, I had a small supply of those articles, as there
were not any medicines on board. Three of the sick men soon died
of the putrid fever, their faces being covered with purple spots:
I ordered them to be lashed up in their hammocks, and hove
overboard with their cloaths, making those who performed that
office, wash themselves very freely with vinegar, and fill their
noses with tobacco. The captain was now delirious, as were most
of those who were sick.

On the 12th, I obtained the captain and chief mate's consent
to bear up for the Isle of France, when we should get into the
latitude of it. The chief mate's complaint terminating in an
intermitting fever, I prevailed on him to lie under the tent; and
by a plentiful administration of bark and port wine, he became
able to keep a day watch.

On the 14th, my friend and companion Mr. Millar was taken ill,
and the captain and most of the sailors were dying, not having
had any medicine administered to them during their illness: three
or four among them, of a strong constitution, were in a state of
raving madness, uttering dreadful imprecations against the
doctor, so that I was obliged to order them to be lashed in their
hammocks, and they died a few days afterwards.

Being in 18 deg. 46' south latitude, and 80 deg. 59' east
longitude, after some persuasion, the chief mate consented to
bear up for the Isle of France; it may, indeed, be thought
strange that he should hesitate one moment in our present
distressing situation: however, going to the Isle of France did
not destroy the hopes he had formed, when he objected to bearing
up. Between the 12th and the 27th, five men died; and on the
28th, Mr. Millar departed this life: the whole were carried off
by a most malignant putrid fever.

On the 29th, we made the Island of Mauritius, and anchored the
same day at the entrance of the north-west harbour. The captain
and three sailors died as we were carrying them on shore.

Most providentially, we had a succession of the finest weather
and the fairest winds we could have wished, from the time we left
the streights of Sunda until our arrival at the Isle of F