up the hole, and raised over it a small mound with the earth which had
been removed. Here the ceremony ended, unaccompanied by any invocation to a
superior being, or any attendant circumstance whence an inference of their
religious opinions could be deduced.

[*No solution of this difficulty had been given when I left the country, in
December, 1791. I can, therefore, only propose queries for the ingenuity of
others to exercise itself upon: is it a disease indigenous to the country?
Did the French ships under Monsieur de Peyrouse introduce it? Let it be
remembered that they had now been departed more than a year; and we had
never heard of its existence on board of them. Had it travelled across the
continent from its western shore, where Dampier and other European voyagers
had formerly landed? Was it introduced by Mr. Cook? Did we give it birth
here? No person among us had been afflicted with the disorder since we had
quitted the Cape of Good Hope, seventeen months before. It is true, that
our surgeons had brought out variolous matter in bottles; but to infer
that it was produced from this cause were a supposition so wild as to be
unworthy of consideration.]

An uninhabited house, near the hospital, was allotted for their reception,
and a cradle prepared for each of them. By the encouragement of Arabanoo,
who assured them of protection, and the soothing behaviour of our medical
gentlemen, they became at once reconciled to us, and looked happy and
grateful at the change of their situation. Sickness and hunger had,
however, so much exhausted the old man, that little hope was entertained
of his recovery. As he pointed frequently to his throat, at the instance of
Arabanoo, he tried to wash it with a gargle which was given to him; but
the obstructed, tender state of the part rendered it impracticable. 'Bado,
bado' (water), was his cry: when brought to him, he drank largely at
intervals of it. He was equally importunate for fire, being seized with
shivering fits; and one was kindled. Fish were produced, to tempt him to
eat; but he turned away his head, with signs of loathing. Nanbaree (the
boy), on the contrary, no sooner saw them than he leaped from his cradle,
and eagerly seizing them, began to cook them. A warm bath being prepared,
they were immersed in it; and after being thoroughly cleansed, they had
clean shirts put on them, and were again laid in bed.

The old man lived but a few hours. He bore the pangs of dissolution