Indian Antiquary Vol 32

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 44

88
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1903
propelled there by the Winds of the preceding Season, which when attracted by the high Mountains of those Islands, agitated by the then unsettled state of the Winds, or some other Physical causes, which ut bera more competent than myself may assign, continue to discharge themselves so long after it ceases to Rain in Bengal and other places, where the Seasons are distinetly defined. In other words it seems to have the whole force of the South West Monsoon, even to a degree more violent than on the Malabar Coast or any other part of India, and to participate also of some part of the North East Monsoon experienced on the Coromandel Coast in the same parallel of Latitude. Hence there is a fall of water, exceeding what is known in any part of the habitable Globe, that I have been able to trace any account of the greatest fall at Senegal being only 115 Inches. In the year 1798 above one Hundred Inches, and during 94 no less than 125 Inches were measured which is about double the Quantity that falls in Bengal during a Season of the greatest Abundance when the excess is esteemed detrimental to Cultivation. Were it not therefore for the peculiar surface of these Islands, so favorable for carrying the Water off the ground, it does not appear that it could be at all habitable, and even with this Advantage, I had the greatest fear when we experienced the violence of the Raing the tirst Season we were at the Settlement, and when only a spot sufficient for onr Hutts and Tents were cleared away, that the Violence of the Torrents would carry off every particle of the Vegetable Would as we went on in clearing and leave the surface of the Earth perfectly Sterile. We have however fortunately found that, from the richness of the Soil, and the Quickness of the Vegetation, the short wiry grass known in Bengal by the name of Doop which is quickly propagated by planting it in little bunches, and of which we had fortunately taken down a considerable quantity soon spread itself over the risings we had cleared, and effectually prevented any of the Soil from being carried off thus insuring good pasture whenever a sufficient space could be cleared away.
With respect to the effect of the Climate on the human constitution we have not yet, I think sufficient experience to form a conclusive Judgement of it. On my first landing in February 1793 I learnt that many of the Labourers were severely effected with the Scurvy, the prevalent Symptoms whereof were swellings of the limbs, Contractions, and Sores, which resisted every medical treatment, and the complaints encreased during the Months of March, April and May in an alarming degree proving fatal in numerous instances. This was almost the only disease experienced during the dry weather, it raged with unabated rigor untill some time after the Rains began, and was imputed to the total want of vegetable food, an opinion fully corroborated by subsequent experience, when the use of some Vegetables found in the Woods, proved conducive to their recovery in the Months of June July. and August.
The Scurvy has not except in a few instances made its appearance since that time, and now that there is abundance of Vegetables it will probably not again be known, but the removal of this malady was unhappily succeeded by another of still more disagreeable tendenoy, and more worthy of particular notice, as it was much feared that it was of an endemial nature; After the first violence of the Rains had subsided, and the Weather became for some days dry and Clear, with every appearance of a pare wholesome Air, in the beginning of Jane, Fevers became very general, not of an Acute or Inflamatory kind, but slow, nervous, and debilitating, generally attended with delirium and obstinately resisting the power of Medicine, and from their extensive prevalence and frequent fatal effects great alarms were created among the Natives, with a general Op.nion that there was something particularly noxious in the Air ; I was however never without hopes, and almost a conviction that the unhealthiness was principally owing to the very confined situation we were then in, our habitations hardly sufficient to guard against the extreme intemperance of the Weather, being close to the edge of an impenetrable Forest as old as the creation from whence issued the putrid effluvia of all kinds of decayed Vegetation; and I was more confirmed in this Opinion by observing that the Crews of the Vessels, lying in the Harbour, were not at all affected by any Malady. Experience has already proved that my hopes were well founded ; for altho' the last rising [(sic? rainy)] Season was much more severe than the former, yet the Settlers were infinitely more healthy, owing doubtless, to our Circle being more extended, and the People being better accommodated with Habitations,