to a
Christian country, some variation, originating from the different
modes of living, and other circumstances; for nothing can be more
opposite than the food, dress, customs, and manners of Muhamedans
and Christians, notwithstanding the approximation of Spain to
Marocco. We have been credibly informed, that it was communicated
originally to Spain, by two infected persons, who went from Tangier
to Estapona, a small village on the opposite shore; who, after
eluding the vigilance of the guards, reached Cadiz. We have also
been assured that it was communicated by some infected persons who
175 landed in Spain, from a vessel that had loaded produce at L'Araiche
in West Barbary. Another account was, that a Spanish privateer,
which had occasion to land its crew for the purpose of procuring
water in some part of West Barbary, caught the infection from
communicating with the natives, and afterwards proceeding to Cadiz,
and spread it in that town and the adjacent country.

It should be observed, for the information of those who may be
desirous of investigating the nature of this extraordinary
distemper, that, from its character and its symptoms, approximating
to the peculiar plague, which (according to the before mentioned
Arabic record) ravaged and depopulated West Barbary four centuries
since, the Arabs and Moors were of opinion it would subside after
the first year, and not appear again the next, as the Egyptian
plague does; and agreeably to this opinion, it did not re-appear
the second year: neither did St. John's day, or that season, affect
its virulence; but about that period there prevails along the coast
of West Barbary, a trade-wind, which, beginning to blow in the
month of May, continues throughout the months of June, July, and
August, with little intermission. It was apprehended that the
influence of this trade-wind, added to the superstitious opinion of
the plague ceasing on St. John's day, would stop, or at least
sensibly diminish the mortality; but no such thing happened: the
wind did set in, as it invariably does, about St. John's day; the
176 disorder, however, increased at that period, rather than
diminished. Some persons were of opinion, that the infection
maintained its virulence till the last; that the decrease of
mortality did not originat