at that prevailed had parched vegetation and drawn moisture from
everything. In an air so rarified, and an atmosphere so dry, it was
hardly to be expected that any experiment upon it would be attended with
its usual results, or that the particles of moisture so far separated,
could be condensed by ordinary methods. The mean of the thermometer for
the months of December, January, and February, had been 101 degrees, 104
degrees, and 101 degrees respectively in the shade. Under its effects
every screw in our boxes had been drawn, and the horn handles of our
instruments, as well as our combs, were split into fine laminae. The lead
dropped out of our pencils, our signal rockets were entirely spoiled; our
hair, as well as the wool on the sheep, ceased to grow, and our nails had
become as brittle as glass. The flour lost more than eight per cent of
its original weight, and the other provisions in a still greater
proportion. The bran in which our bacon had been packed, was perfectly
saturated, and weighed almost as heavy as the meat; we were obliged to
bury our wax candles; a bottle of citric acid in Mr. Browne's box became
fluid, and escaping, burnt a quantity of his linen; and we found it
difficult to write or draw, so rapidly did the fluid dry in our pens and
brushes. It was happy for us, therefore, that a cooler season set in,
otherwise I do not think that many of us could much longer have survived.
But, although it might be said that the intense heat of the summer had
passed, there still were intervals of most oppressive weather.

About the beginning of March I had had occasion to speak to Mr. Browne as
to certain indications of disease that were upon me. I had violent
headaches, unusual pains in my joints, and a coppery taste in my mouth.
These symptoms I attributed to having slept so frequently on the hard
ground and in the beds of creeks, and it was only when my mouth became
sore, and my gums spongy, that I felt it necessary to trouble Mr. Browne,
who at once told me that I was labouring under an attack of scurvy, and I
regretted to learn from him that both he and Mr. Poole were similarly
affected, but they hoped I had hitherto escaped. Mr. Browne was the more
surprised at my case, as I was very moderate in my diet, and had taken
but little food likely to cause such a malady. Of we three Mr. Poole
suffered most, and gradually declined in health. For myself I immediately
took double precautions, and although I could not ho