Chapter XLVII: Appendix: , A

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The annexed documents, as far as they can be relied on, afford evidence of an extent of mortality in Batavia, as compared with the number of inhabitants, that was perhaps never exampled, for the same space of time, in any other quarter of the world.

The Table No. I., incomplete as it is, was drawn out with as much exactness as the original lists and registers still in possession would admit of. In explanation of some inconsistencies which are exhibited in it, it is necessary to observe, that on the occasion of the capture of this island, part of the most valuable papers were lost or destroyed, and amongst them the register in which was stated the Chinese population, and the number of their deaths and marriages annually, which is the reason why no mention is made of them in this table.

The first and third columns contain only the numbers of _European_ inhabitants.

The last column, which shews the deaths of the _Natives_ and _Slaves_, is probably a list of the deceased slaves only; because there was a separate list kept of the natives who died annually in the Batavian jurisdiction, which, however, was for a long time incorrect, and at last destroyed in 1811.

It is also probable, that the column of _deaths_ generally does not extend farther than in the town and immediate suburbs; and the other two columns of _baptisms_ and _marriages_ extend over the town, suburbs, and environs together.

The specific lists kept in the different hospitals were likewise lost. This is to be particularly lamented, because they would have shewn how many of the European deaths were inhabitants, military persons, strangers, or sailors or marines from the ships of the different nations in Batavia Roads, who all sent their sick men into the hospitals of Batavia, who, when dead, were comprehended in the number of European deaths. This circumstance explains the incorrectness which appears to exist in the two statements of the living and deceased Europeans.

The Table No. II. was discovered among the records of the Dutch government at Batavia, and in the absence of a more official document, may, perhaps, on that account, be entitled to some confidence.

TABLE, No. I.

_LIST of the POPULATION, MARRIAGES,
BAPTISMS, and DEATHS, in the Town and Suburbs of
BATAVIA, from 1700 to 1813, as far as the same could be
ascertained from the Registers, &c. after the Conquest of Java in
1811._

----+------+--------+-----+--------+-------+------+
| POPULATION. | MARRIAGES. |
+------+--------+-----+--------+-------+------+
| Within | In the |Euro- | Half |
| the Walls. | Suburbs. |pe- |Casts |
+------+--------+-----+--------+ans. | and |
| Euro-| Euro- |Euro-| Euro- | |other |
|peans.|peans. |pe- |peans. | |Chris-|
| | & |ans. | & | |tians.|
| | Nati- | | Nati- | | |
| | ves. | | ves. | | |
----+------+--------+-----+--------+-------+------+
1700| 1,875| 20,072| 215| 32,478| 74| 134|
1701| 1,715| 19,084| 321| 48,972| 65| 126|
1702| 1,755| 19,683| 309| 45,452| 76| 120|
1703| 1,835| 18,580| 534| 47,123| 72| 133|
1704| 1,898| 22,150| 470| 49,351| 74| 144|
1705| 1,771| 19,752| --| --| 55| 133|
1706| 1,923| 21,899| 417| 49,483| 79| 127|
1707| 1,826| 21,632| 411| 47,026| 60| 116|
1708| 1,769| 20,922| 402| 54,628| 49| 134|
1709| 1,681| 20,600| 412| 55,581| 64| 138|
1710| 1,716| 20,850| 368| 58,761| 41| 152|
1711| 1,723| 21,517| 341| 57,843| 63| 154|
1712| 1,656| 21,538| 448| 65,865| 60| 141|
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
1713| 1,566| 19,007| 503| 69,110| 56| 154|
1714| 1,644| 19,758| 553| 66,092| 60| 150|
1715| 1,663| 22,242| 411| 64,657| 43| 159|
1716| 1,516| 18,947| 446| 60,236| 37| 129|
1717| 1,443| 18,965| 290| 59,831| 41| 147|
1718| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1719| 1,409| 19,411| 308| 68,082| 59| 154|
1720| 1,610| 21,156| 361| 67,792| 68| 148|
1721| 1,477| 20,520| 387| 67,044| 53| 80|
1722| 695| 11,252| 417| 67,339| 61| 132|
1723| 1,606| 23,716| 363| 66,079| 43| 119|
1724| 1,562| 23,428| 341| 62,966| 34| 172|
1725| 1,615| 23,752| 332| 72,218| 60| 150|
| Within the | In the | | |
| Walls and | Vicinity | | |
| immediate | and | | |
| Suburbs. | Environs. | | |
| | | | |
1726| 1,452| 22,814| 304| 76,893| 58| 118|
1727| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1728| 1,538| 15,343| 289| 73,141| 50| 155|
1729| 1,389| 20,677| 232| 81,977| 52| 135|
1730| 1,330| 20,429| 209| 80,756| 45| 167|
1731| 1,431| 22,658| 241| 82,204| 45| 128|
1732| 1,445| 22,646| 211| 83,602| 55| 142|
1733| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1734| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1735| 1,338| 20,587| 224| 74,367| 65| 166|
1736| --| --| --| --| 48| --|
1737| 1,317| 19,612| 266| 67,170| 48| 133|
1738| 1,350| 11,212| 212| 64,090| 49| 133|
1739| 1,286| 18,502| 272| 68,229| 51| 179|
1740| 1,420| 14,141| 269| 72,506| 47| 90|
1741| 1,388| 13,977| 287| 47,583| 52| 124|
1742| --| --| 259| 56,882| 47| 118|
1743| 1,481| 14,609| 321| 55,023| 84| 119|
1744| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1745| 1,517| 14,926| 278| 67,254| 60| 117|
1746| 1,597| 13,852| 242| 68,785| --| --|
1747| 1,525| 13,854| 240| 73,163| --| --|
1748| --| --| --| --| --| --|
1749| 1,541| 14,050| 318| 77,008| 39| 115|
1750| 1,520| 14,278| 313| 80,597| 63| 105|
1751| 1,439| 13,874| 336| 78,259|\ 38 | 84/|
| | | | | \_____ ____/
| | | | | V |
1752| 1,513| 14,596| 311| 75,152| 135[281]|
1753| 1,651| 15,710| 325| 76,611| 132|
1754| 1,575| 15,891| 358| 93,375| 136|
|Within the Town| | | |
| and all the | | | |
| Suburbs. | | | |
1755| 1,599| 16,466| 369| 95,938| 146|
1756| 1,604| 15,925| 310| 96,702| 143|
1757| 1,629| 16,356| 373| 103,443| 137|
1758| 1,560| 16,855| 447| 106,151| 128|
1759| 1,572| 16,942| 377| 111,273| 97|
1760| 1,634| 16,785| 410| 109,393| 124|
1761| 1,499| 16,298| 305| 113,280| --|
1762| --| --| --| --| --|
1763| 1,507| 16,282| 447| 113,009| 112|
1764| --| 16,008| 413| 117,207| 131|
1765| --| --| --| --| --|
1766| --| --| --| --| --|
1767| --| --| --| --| --|
1768| 1,642| 15,256| 273| 108,507| 93|
1769| 1,271| 15,430| 389| 114,750| 124|
1770| 1,183| 13,192| 328| 123,869| 126|
1771| 1,105| 12,233| 300| 121,380| 93|
1772| 1,011| 12,743| 348| 112,346| 108|
1773| 1,061| 13,473| 342| 107,500| 98|
1774| 933| 12,134| 367| 108,215| 97|
1775| 1,165| 13,512| 328| 125,635| 214|
1776| --| --| 276| 131,895| 100|
1777| 896| 10,661| 279| 140,332| 98|
1778| 1,137| 12,206| 238| 135,532| 104|
1779| --| --| 302| 160,986| 82|
1780| 747| 13,651| 278| 129,943| 113|
1781| --| --| --| --| --|
1782| 664| 9,517| 276| 127,039| 75|
1783| --| --| --| --| --|
1784| 695| 10,422| 336| 129,506| 81|
1785| --| --| --| --| --|
1786| --| --| --| --| --|
1787| 574| 9,910| 375| 133,151| 58|
1788| --| --| --| --| --|
1789| --| --| --| --| --|
1790| --| --| --| --| 69|
1791| 325| 6,367| 450| 120,352| 48|
1792| 254| 8,121| 282| 119,297| 59|
1793| 254| 8,121| 282| 119,297| 48|
1794| --| --| --| --| --|
1795| --| --| --| --| 92|
1796| --| --| --| --| 67|
1797| --| --| --| --| 52|
1798| --| --| --| --| 68|
1799| --| --| --| --| --|
1800| --| --| --| --| 68|
1801| --| --| --| --| 32|
1802| --| --| --| --| --|
1803| --| --| --| --| 58|
1804| --| --| 378| 72,830| --|
1805| --| --| 500| 73,728| 83|
1806| --| --| --| --| 50|
1807| --| --| --| --| 86|
1808| --| --| --| --| --|
1809| --| --| --| --| --|
1810| --| --| --| --| --|
1811| --| --| --| --| --|
1812| --| --| --| --| --|
1813| --| --| --| --| --|
----+------+--------+-----+--------+-------+------+

----+---------+-------+-------+--------
| BAPTISMS. | DEATHS.
+---------+-------+-------+--------
| Euro- | Those | Euro- | Nati-,
|peans' | of |peans, |Slaves,
| Child- | Half | Half | &c.
| ren. | Casts |Casts, |
| | and | &c. |
| | other | |
| | Chris-| |
| | tians.| |
----+---------+-------+-------+--------
1700| 119| 565| 697| 975
1701| 76| 341| 736| 815
1702| 83| 616| 1,088| 1,336
1703| 190| 443| 856| 931
1704| 96| 466| 442| 1,148
1705| 100| 441| 688| 1,800
1706| 84| 447| 841| 1,839
1707| 88| 471| 655| 1,371
1708| 87| 638| 651| 1,481
1709| 82| 575| 804| 1,828
1710| 108| 628| 684| 1,313
1711| 110| 555| 766| 1,487
1712|\ 110| 595/ | 684| 1,278
| \______ _____/ | |
| V | |
1713| 747[280]| 599| 1,022
1714| 703| 608| 1,085
1715| 759| 567| 1,074
1716| 688| 606| 1,207
1717| 578| 716| 1,322
1718| 663| --| --
1719| 631| 857| 1,869
1720| 529| 977| 1,685
1721| 467| 772| 1,210
1722| 649| 193| 813
1723| 610| 985| 1,597
1724| 781| 934| 1,755
1725| 637| 958| 2,085
|In the Reformed | |
| Churches, and | |
|since 1746, in | |
| the Lutheran | |
| Church. | |
1726| 616| 994| 487
1727| 740| --| --
1728| 648| 768| 590
1729| 736| 754| 500
1730| 763| 857| 1,800
1731| 783| 886| 1,066
1732| 625| 1,003| 689
1733| 554| --| --
1734| 432| --| --
1735| 561| 240| 667
1736| 727| --| --
1737| 572| 1,966| 705
1738| 448| 2,002| 919
1739| 658| 1,068| 668
1740| 518| 1,317| 338
1741| 670| 1,278| 406
1742| 602| 1,286| 547
1743| 639| 1,526| 682
1744| 673| --| --
1745| 592| 1,965| 1,062
1746| 574| --| --
1747| 670| --| --
1748| 627| --| --
1749| 705| 1,662| 556
1750| 571| 2,229| 569
1751| 550| 2,189| 502

| | |
1752| 600| 1,858| 562
1753| 457| 1,789| 1,542
1754| 553| 1,729| 617
| | |
| | |
| | |
1755| 484| 2,532| 630
1756| 410| 1,729| 547
1757| 465| 1,557| 561
1758| 468| 1,781| 1,082
1759| 437| 1,451| 636
1760| 450| 1,403| 1,064
1761| 387| 1,110| 980
1762| 471| --| --
1763| 435| 2,001| 1,134
1764| 297| 1,907| 585
1765| 357| --| --
1766| 356| --| --
1767| 306| --| --
1768| 329| 1,933| 537
1769| 369| 1,869| 667
1770| 302| 2,871| 2,672
1771| 245| 2,425| 622
1772| 301| 2,437| 2,256
1773| 284| 2,029| 534
1774| 295| 2,452| 866
1775| 307| 2,997| 3,007
1776| 303| 3,055| 1,199
1777| 277| 1,394| 2,031
1778| 253| 1,804| 2,131
1779| 290| 1,524| 1,717
1780| 259| 1,418| 1,435
1781| 272| --| --
1782| 260| 733| 1,692
1783| 292| --| --
1784| 279| 1,439| 1,669
1785| 243| --| --
1786| 238| --| --
1787| 230| 1,939| 1,278
1788| 284| --| --
1789| 236| --| --
1790| 220| 2,379| 1,672
1791| 216| 2,228| 1,590
1792| 171| 1,990| 1,131
1793| 149| 1,805| 1,030
1794| 215| --| --
1795| 183| 1,121| 953
1796| 173| --| --
1797| 210| 215| 930
1798| 173| 280| 675
1799| 236| --| --
1800| 169| 106| 1,168
1801| 169| --| --
1802| 207| --| --
1803| 182| 263| 2,356
1804| 190| 255| --
1805| 164| --| --
1806| 171| --| --
1807| 186| --| 2,549
1808| 151| --| --
1809| 131| --| --
1810| 167| --| --
1811| 136| --| --
1812| 115| --| --
1813| 138| --| --
----+---------+-------+-------+--------

TABLE, No. II.

_LIST of DECEASED and BURIED in the
several Burial Places at BATAVIA, from the Year 1730, till
the Month of August, 1752._

[Translated from a Document discovered among the Records of the
Dutch Government at Batavia.]

1730.
Numb. deceased.

January 3,862
February 3,786
March 3,928
April 3,860
May 3,862
June 3,889
July 4,268
August 4,404
September 4,597
October 4,290
November 3,965
December 3,739
------ 48,450

1731.
January 3,699
February 3,705
March 3,827
April 3,833
May 3,711
June 3,788
July 4,480
August 4,527
September 4,916
October 4,512
November 4,412
December 4,430
------ 49,840

1732.
January 4,359
February 4,047
March 4,046
April 4,060
May 4,066
June 4,191
July 4,515
August 4,758
September 5,314
October 4,912
November 4,344
December 4,305
------ 52,917

1733.
January 4,205
February 4,261
March 3,989
April 3,948
May 3,747
June 3,840
July 3,885
August 3,805
September 4,147
October 4,148
November 3,906
December 3,864
------ 47,745

1734.
January 3,830
February 3,963
March 3,914
April 3,725
May 3,711
June 3,550
July 3,772
August 4,294
September 5,303
October 4,237
November 4,025
December 4,021
------ 48,145

1735.
January 3,722
February 3,775
March 3,830
April 3,757
May 3,780
June 3,968
July 4,141
August 4,041
September 4,058
October 4,050
November 3,966
December 3,962
------ 47,050

1736.
January 4,110
February 3,909
March 3,815
April 3,778
May 3,760
June 3,699
July 4,063
August 4,078
September 4,260
October 4,110
November 3,841
December 4,080
------ 47,503

1737.
January 4,066
February 4,093
March 3,707
April 3,561
May 3,485
June 3,358
July 3,357
August 3,400
September 2,501
October 4,054
November 4,057
December 4,061
------ 43,709

1738.
January 3,784
February 3,572
March 3,570
April 3,718
May 3,717
June 4,018
July 4,045
August 3,771
September 4,110
October 4,293
November 4,030
December 4,158
------ 46,786

1739.
January 4,039
February 4,017
March 3,909
April 3,759
May 3,885
June 3,985
July 4,266
August 4,273
September 4,053
October 4,139
November 4,189
December 4,084
------ 48,598

1740.
January 3,851
February 3,747
March 3,758
April 3,878
May 4,090
June 4,424
July 4,536
August 4,321
September 4,538
October 4,514
November 4,224
December 4,083
------ 49,964

1741.
January 4,010
February 3,842
March 3,893
April 3,824
May 3,958
June 4,057
July 4,136
August 3,764
September 4,093
October 3,888
November 3,766
December 3,712
------ 46,943

1742.
January 2,849
February 3,731
March 3,780
April 3,811
May 2,185
June 3,665
July 3,915
August 3,976
September 3,546
October 3,537
November 3,646
December 4,021
------ 42,662

1743.
January 3,744
February 3,659
March 3,399
April 3,407
May 3,418
June 4,448
July 3,822
August 3,937
September 3,641
October 3,798
November 3,852
December 4,011
------ 45,136

1744.
January 4,114
February 3,974
March 3,682
April 3,723
May 3,790
June 3,808
July 3,847
August 3,601
September 5,904
October 3,914
November 4,140
December 4,064
------- 47,661
1745.
January 3,952
February 3,765
March 3,212
April 3,230
May 3,290
June 3,327
July 3,655
August 3,736
September 4,197
October 3,632
November 3,486
December 3,526
------- 43,008
1746.
January 3,479
February 3,491
March 3,459
April 3,373
May 3,435
June 3,950
July 4,750
August 4,210
September 4,110
October 4,214
November 4,483
December 4,874
------- 47,828
1747.
January 4,414
February 4,389
March 4,305
April 4,159
May 4,599
June 4,978
July 5,355
August 4,946
September 5,016
October 3,028
November 4,506
December 4,603
------- 54,298
1748.
January 4,459
February 4,322
March 4,796
April 4,689
May 4,603
June 5,106
July 4,469
August 4,355
September 5,034
October 5,169
November 5,140
December 4,864
------- 57,006
1749.
January 4,870
February 4,452
March 4,332
April 4,505
May 4,425
June 4,589
July 4,656
August 4,174
September 4,398
October 4,684
November 4,537
December 4,893
------- 54,515
1750.
January 4,546
February 4,352
March 4,417
April 4,619
May 5,227
June 5,072
July 5,277
August 5,134
September 4,872
October 4,580
November 4,526
December 4,508
------- 57,130
1751.
January 4,543
February 4,128
March 4,163
April 4,170
May 3,967
June 4,967
July 6,904
August 5,566
September 5,699
October 5,344
November 4,612
December 4,533
------- 58,605
1752.
January 3,923
February 3,941
March 4,272
April 4,116
May 4,466
June 4,285
July 4,359
August 4,514
------- 33,876
During twenty-two
years and
eight months, ---------
Grand Total 1,119,375

The unhealthiness of the climate of Batavia is connected, in the minds of many, with the fabulous properties of the poison tree of Java, and many are so ignorant of the island as to consider the climate of Batavia as a fair example of that of Java in general. History attests that this city has been highly pernicious to the health both of Europeans and Natives, almost from its foundation, and recent experience concurs with the testimony of history. The mines of America, when they were first discovered, did not more strongly allure the Spaniards, nor urged them to sacrifice more relentlessly the lives of the unresisting natives to their burning thirst of gold, than the monopoly of Java and the Spice Islands led the Dutch Company, in the track of wealth, through danger, injustice and oppression. Though the unhealthiness of Batavia was at all times known and formidable, there were times when the mortality became extraordinary and alarming. Although not prone to any speculation, except that of merchants, or to any inquiry, except for a new market or a more lucrative channel of trade, the Company's Government in India was sometimes forced to institute inquiries into the cause of this insalubrity, and to speculate about the possibility and the means of removing it. Passing by other occasions, there exists on the records of the High Regency a reply to queries about the unhealthiness of Batavia, dated the 14th of October 1753. This paper states that between 1732 and 1738, the greatest number of casualties happened. It assigns, as a great cause of the insalubrity complained of, the situation of the town in a bay, confined on the west and east by projecting points of land, and inclosed in front by a cluster of small islands. The space between the town and the sea is chiefly mud, left by the retreating of the sea: a swamp surrounds the town. The mouths of the rivers are generally covered with underwood and a species of tree peculiar to swamps. The vegetation of these low grounds, it is added, cannot but retain impurities of the most noxious kind. The space which is formed at the mouths of the rivers _Táng'ran_ and _Ang'ki_ is an entire swamp, covered with shrubs which emit exhalations of an impure nature: these are interspersed with the burying grounds of the natives, and the effluvia of these places is felt at some distance. It was believed that the earthquake of 1699, by forcing mud from under the earth and blocking up the mouths of the rivers more than formerly, contributed to increase the previously existing unhealthiness. The lime kilns in the neighbourhood, the close plantations of trees that prevent a free circulation of air, the stagnation of the rivers from the bars of mud or sand which obstruct their out-course into the sea, the kind of water which the inhabitants are compelled to drink, the narrowness of their houses, and the dirt and filth accumulated in the numerous canals that intersect the town, have all their due share of pernicious efficiency assigned them in this report. The buildings, it is said, are admirably adapted to keep out the fresh air, and to retain that which is putrid or noxious. To remedy the evils felt, a new construction of houses is recommended, and a frequent pruning or entire extirpation of the trees.

The fever, which excited this inquiry, commenced in 1733 and lasted till 1738, and, during its continuance, two thousand of the Company's servants and free Christians annually died. In 1739 its violence abated; but it broke out again in 1744, and continued with little diminution or variation to the date of the report in 1753.

Without stopping to inquire whether it would be easier to remove disease from Batavia, or the inhabitants of Batavia from disease, I shall take the liberty of quoting an extract from a report on the climate of some parts of Java, drawn up by Mr. Robertson, the late Superintending Surgeon, which appears to me to afford a satisfactory account of the causes of the insalubrity of the capital. After giving a statement of the mortality that prevailed in an Indiaman, a part of the crew of which landed at Batavia, he thus proceeds.

"Such is the melancholy instance of the noxious climate of Batavia, which came within my own observation. That it was not epidemic is clearly evinced, from its not extending its influence to those who attended the sick, nor to the rest of the crew, all of whom escaped its attack and remained healthy. Among the Dutch who remain in the town, fevers are, I understand, very prevalent at all seasons, notwithstanding their being, in a manner, inured to the climate, and most of them have a sallow sickly appearance. It is not uncommon, in riding through the streets, to meet three or four funerals daily.

"The Chinese, however, who are very numerous, suffer more than any class of the people; perhaps, from the worse situations of their houses, the manner in which these are crowded, the closeness of their apartments, and their gross manner of living. The number of casualties among them, I am told, is incredible, especially during the dry season; and if one may judge from the extent of their burial ground, and the number of their tumuli, it cannot admit of a doubt. The preceding facts are, I conclude, sufficient to establish the truth of the noxious character the climate of Batavia has so long obtained, and I shall now proceed to the causes which have been often investigated, and seem well ascertained, though the knowledge of them has led to little exertion for their removal.

"The baneful effects of marsh miasmata on the human system is well known, engendering intermittent and remittent fevers, dysenteries, and visceral obstructions. Batavia, built almost in a swamp, surrounded by marshes in all directions, trees and jungles, which prevent the exhalations being carried off by a free circulation of air, is peculiarly obnoxious from this cause. Opposite the mouth of the river, and extending a great way to the westward, is a mud-bank, which, in many parts at low water, is uncovered by the sea, and is daily accumulating from the quantities of mud and animal and vegetable matter carried down by the river during its reflux. Again the sea, often at spring tides, overflows the adjacent country, and, on its receding, leaves the soil covered with slime and mud, which, exposed to the action of the sun, soon suffers decomposition, and impregnates the atmosphere with its noxious exhalations, which are carried by the sea breeze over Batavia, where the trees and jungles surrounding the houses prevent their being dissipated. During the heat of the day these exhalations are more diffused and comparatively innoxious, but when the sun withdraws its influence they become more condensed, and amalgamating with the descending evening dews form a morbid atmosphere around the houses of the inhabitants. This hypothesis will readily account for a fact well known, that people whose commercial concerns require their presence in Batavia during the day, and who retire during the night into the country, escape this endemic, while scarcely any who sleep in the town, even for a night, unless those who, by a long residence, are inured to it, escape. In the ingenious and sensible work formerly alluded to (Mr. Johnson's), I find this hypothesis so clearly and perspicuously expounded, that I must take the liberty of quoting it.

"'The cause why the stench emitted by marshes and vegetable matter in a state of decomposition is more perceptible immediately after sunset, is not that the vapours are disengaged in greater quantities then than during the day, but the marshes retain their heat for some time after the sun's rays are withdrawn, and consequently continue to emit vapours through the atmosphere, as during the high temperature of the day by the sun. They therefore meet the descending dews, condensing and forming a thick fog, which hovers over the swamps, accompanied by a noxious and disagreeable odour. The miasmata exhaled during the day, in all probability, descend with the dews of the evening, which, meeting and combining with those that continue to be disengaged from their source, must form a concentration highly capable of affecting the constitution. Marsh effluvia become at a certain distance from their source innoxious. Dr. Hunter observes, 'a few feet in height gives a comparative security in the same buildings.' This will be accounted for by the supposition, that as the miasmata exhaled during the day descend in the evenings, they become more and more concentrated, till meeting the exhalations from the still reeking marshes, a dense stratum of highly impregnated atmosphere is found contiguous to the surface of the earth: hence the salubrity of sleeping in upper apartments. This leads to another practicable inference of considerable importance, that when necessity compels exposure to these marshes, we should select that point of time least likely to meet those miasmata, whether ascending or descending. This period seems to extend from three to six in the afternoon:[282] that is, after the greatest heat of the earth and air, and consequently the greatest evaporation, and before the condensation and return of such exhalations as rose during the day, and which combine with those still issuing from the heated soil for some time after sunset.'

"A second, and, I think, an equally powerful cause, is the stagnant water of the canals, which, in all directions, intersect the city. In the first place, they are filled with filth of every description; there is scarcely at times any perceptible current in them to carry off that filth; and lastly, the sluices are frequently kept shut, for the purpose of swelling the waters above them to irrigate the fields, while those below, which intersect the town, become almost dry, leaving an extensive surface of mud, and every kind of putrified matter, to be acted upon by the sun, raising the most pestilential vapours, with which, as before observed, the atmosphere gets thoroughly impregnated.

"As a third cause, the state of the houses may be considered, and the mode of living of the Dutch. Houses that are untenanted are seldom opened, and thus collect much filth and foul, damp, pernicious vapours. Those that are inhabited are generally shut up in the day time, most of them being glazed, thus preventing a free circulation of air; and in the lower story of most of the houses, the walls are covered some feet from the ground with a greenish coat, and on entering the apartments a stranger experiences a kind of chilly feel, and a damp raw kind of smell. Although it cannot be enumerated among the causes, yet I cannot help thinking the Dutch mode of medical practice, in as far as it is inefficient to counteract the diseases of this climate, must tend to increase the number of fatal terminations.

"The Dutch practitioners, little in the habit of theorizing, continue the same practice in every form of disease, and they are particularly prejudiced against the use of mercury, opium, and other powerful medicines, in consequence relying solely on the most simple and inert remedies. Some few of them, of more enlarged understanding, adopt the English mode, and seem sensible of its superior efficacy.

"A fourth, and, I am convinced, a very general cause, especially of the diarrhœas and dysenteries, which seldom fail to attack new comers, is the water. This most essential article is taken either from the canals or wells, and it is equally bad when passed through a filtering stone. It retains a brackish, hard, unpleasant taste, and if allowed to remain some time in vessels without previous boiling, generates small animalculæ. Such, I conceive, are the most probable and principal causes of the insalubrity of Batavia; though there are, I doubt not, others contributing, which elude observation. It is generally received, though I think an erroneous opinion, that the rainy season is the most unhealthy. The most unhealthy appears to me to be that immediately after the cessation of the rains; and the older and more experienced Dutch residents have observed, that in years when there has been a long continued drought, disease has been more than usually prevalent, and they look forward with anxiety for the accession of the rains, as the means of resisting its baneful dissemination.

"Weltevreden, at a distance of not more than three miles, being less exposed to these causes, excepting the water, is exempt, in a great measure, from its prevailing endemic fever; though diarrhœas are common, especially among those newly arriving, but they are seldom of a serious or alarming nature.

"Among the troops stationed at Weltevreden and Cornelis, diseases are not more frequent than in the healthiest parts of India which I have visited; though for some months since the Báli expedition, the casualties in the 78th regiment have been numerous. At _Chemangis_, about twenty-two miles from Batavia inland, a battalion of Sepoys is stationed, where, from the returns I have received, it appears they enjoy comparatively good health, and have very few casualties, though a much larger quantity of rain falls than in the vicinity of Weltevreden. It is on an elevated commanding situation, and open and clear of jungle for a considerable extent around."

In support of the opinion which has been given of the general salubrity of the climate of Java, the abstract returns of sick, &c. among the troops serving on Java and its dependencies, for the last two years, are annexed, together with a statement of casualties, in His Majesty's 78th regiment, while serving on the continent of India and in Java.

_GENERAL ABSTRACT of the MONTHLY RETURN of
SICK on the Island of JAVA and its Dependencies,
from 1st November, 1813, to 30th October, 1814._

-------+----------+--------+---------+---------+-----------+------+
Months.| No. of Troops. |Remained.|Admitted.|Discharged.|Dead.
+----------+--------+ on the| | +------+
|Europeans.|Natives.| 1st | | |Fever.|
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
-------+----------+--------+---------+---------+-----------+------+
1813. | | | | | | |
Nov. | 2,262| 5,196| 938| 997| 981| 5|
Dec. | 2,399| 4,962| 963| 908| 974| 3|
| | | | | | |
1814. | | | | | | |
Jan. | 2,089| 5,536| 955| 852| 895| 1|
Feb. | 1,233| 4,865| 677| 474| 477| 3|
Mar. | 2,154| 5,845| 744| 733| 834| 6|
Apr. | 1,818| 4,962| 620| 662| 620| 5|
May | 1,781| 6,509| 848| 876| 805| 8|
June | 1,677| 5,790| 763| 934| 820| 11|
July | 1,663| 5,560| 839| 1,082| 880| 7|
Aug. | 1,569| 5,735| 947| 945| 772| 21|
Sept. | 2,309| 5,863| 1,157| 915| 916| 31|
Oct. | 2,306| 5,562| 1,079| 876| 1,018| 9|
-------+----------+--------+---------+---------+-----------+------+

-------+----------+---------+-----+------+-----+----------+
Months. Dead. | Remaining last month.
+----------+---------+-----+------+-----+----------+
|Dysentery.|Other |TOTAL|Fever.|Flux.|Hepatitis.|
| |Diseases.| | | | |
| | | | | | |
-------+----------+---------+-----+------+-----+----------+
1813. | | | | | | |
Nov. | 19| 6| 30| 176| 216| 10|
Dec. | 37| 14| 54| 150| 205| 9|
| | | | | | |
1814. | | | | | | |
Jan. | 24| 11| 36| 144| 196| 11|
Feb. | 14| 6| 23| 99| 144| 2|
Mar. | 19| 6| 31| 146| 152| 1|
Apr. | 18| 5| 28| 149| 131| 5|
May | 35| 4| 47| 169| 201| 7|
June | 30| 13| 54| 168| 182| 12|
July | 30| 10| 47| 304| 199| 15|
Aug. | 17| 4| 42| 440| 189| 11|
Sept. | 38| 8| 77| 395| 172| 15|
Oct. | 24| 12| 45| 241| 176| 9|
-------+----------+---------+-----+------+-----+----------+

-------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+
Months. Remaining last month. |
+-----------+----------+-------+---------+
|Rheumatism.|Syphilis. |Ulcers.|Other |
| | and | |Diseases.|
| |Gonorrhea.| | |
-------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+
1813. | | | | |
Nov. | 61| 101| 195| 144|
Dec. | 73| 95| 149| 164|
| | | | |
1814. | | | | |
Jan. | 79| 99| 170| 177|
Feb. | 63| 84| 113| 146|
Mar. | 69| 183| 102| 116|
Apr. | 51| 80| 80| 144|
May | 87| 107| 131| 160|
June | 80| 103| 127| 151|
July | 103| 117| 104| 150|
Aug. | 89| 117| 111| 121|
Sept. | 107| 135| 97| 159|
Oct. | 106| 122| 91| 142|
-------+-----------+----------+-------+---------+

-------+----------+--------+-----------+------------
Months.| TOTAL | Proportion| Proportion
+----------+--------+ of Sick. | of Deaths
|Europeans.|Natives.| | to Cures.
| | | |
| | | |
-------+----------+--------+-----------+------------
1813. | | | |
Nov. | 289| 635| 1 to 8 | 1 to 32.70
Dec. | 266| 577| 1 to 9.90| 1 to 18
| | | |
1814. | | | |
Jan. | 232| 644| 1 to 8.70| 1 to 24.86
Feb. | 141| 510| 1 to 9.33| 1 to 27.39
Mar. | 124| 575| 1 to 11.52| 1 to 26.911
Apr. | 177| 457| 1 to 10.67| 1 to 22.14
May | 195| 667| 1 to 9.61| 1 to 17.12
June | 216| 607| 1 to 9 | 1 to 15.18
July | 230| 764| 1 to 7.28| 1 to 18.72
Aug. | 263| 815| 1 to 6.77| 1 to 18.38
Sept. | 355| 725| 1 to 7.55| 1 to 11.89
Oct. | 278| 609| 1 to 8.87| 1 to 22.62
-------+----------+--------+-----------+------------

_GENERAL MONTHLY AVERAGE of SICK and
CASUALTIES on the Island of JAVA and its
Dependencies, from 1st November, 1813, to 31st October, 1814._

_MONTHLY AVERAGE of FATAL DISEASES, from 1st
November, 1813, to 31st October, 1814._

+---------------+---------+---------+-----------+----------+
| Deaths during | Fevers. | Flux. | Other | TOTAL. |
| the Year. | | | Diseases. | |
+---------------+---------+---------+-----------+----------+
| 514| 110| 305| 99| 514|
+---------------+---------+---------+-----------+----------+
|Monthly Average| 9⅙ | 25⁵⁄₁₂ | 8¼ | 42¹⁰⁄₁₂ |
+---------------+---------+---------+-----------+----------+

_GENERAL ABSTRACT of the MONTHLY RETURNS of
SICK on the Island of JAVA and its Dependencies,
from 1st November, 1814, to 31st December, 1815, inclusive._

-------+-------------------+---------+---------+-----------+-------
| No. of Troops. |Remained.|Admitted.|Discharged.|
+----------+--------+on the | | +------+
Months.|Europeans.|Natives.| 1st | | |Fever.|
| | | | | | |
-------+----------+--------+---------+---------+-----------+------+
1814.| | | | | | |
Nov. | 2,272| 6,283| 906| 820| 784| 11|
Dec. | 2,325| 6,268| 890| 797| 815| 13|
| | | | | | |
1815.| | | | | | |
Jan. | 2,106| 6,233| 842| 693| 776| 6|
Feb. | 2,211| 5,962| 714| 601| 601| 6|
Mar. | 2,172| 5,700| 595| 642| 600| 1|
Apr. | 2,050| 5,481| 623| 706| 648| 5|
May | 2,082| 5,983| 658| 723| 677| 4|
June | 2,002| 5,862| 691| 682| 663| 4|
July | 1,442| 5,227| 609| 540| 551| 4|
Aug. | 1,339| 4,836| 584| 545| 554| 5|
Sept.| 1,324| 4,595| 497| 444| 467| 2|
Oct. | 1,326| 4,770| 420| 384| 387| 2|
Nov. | 821| 4,404| 443| 407| 392| 1|
Dec. | 772| 3,170| 344| 388| 343| 2|
-------+----------+--------+---------+---------+-----------+------+

------------------------------+------------------------------------
Dead. | Remaining last month.
+-----+---------+------+------+-----+----------+-----------+
Months.|Flux.|Other |TOTAL.|Fever.|Flux.|Hepatitis.|Rheumatism.|
| |Diseases.| | | | | |
-------+-----+---------+------+------+-----+----------+-----------+
1814.| | | | | | | |
Nov. | 21| 7| 39| 211| 154| 5| 104|
Dec. | 22| 11| 46| 211| 132| 10| 84|
| | | | | | | |
1815.| | | | | | | |
Jan. | 18| 8| 32| 157| 119| 18| 88|
Feb. | 7| 4| 17| 141| 106| 8| 102|
Mar. | 10| 5| 16| 184| 96| 6| 79|
Apr. | 10| 4| 19| 182| 122| 5| 81|
May | 6| 4| 14| 158| 122| 8| 77|
June | 12| 5| 21| 204| 107| 5| 81|
July | 6| 3| 13| 177| 109| 4| 64|
Aug. | 5| 4| 14| 139| 102| 3| 64|
Sept.| 1| 5| 8| 101| 91| 4| 49|
Oct. | 6| 5| 13| 88| 58| 4| 59|
Nov. | 6| 5| 12| 101| 78| 4| 53|
Dec. | 5| 3| 10| 83| 79| 4| 36|
-------+-----+---------+------+------+-----+----------+-----------+

-----------------------------------+
|
+---------+-------+---------+
Months.|Venereal.|Ulcers.|Other |
| | |Diseases.|
-------+---------+-------+---------+
1814.| | | |
Nov. | 132| 112| 185|
Dec. | 123| 116| 150|
| | | |
1815.| | | |
Jan. | 105| 118| 127|
Feb. | 87| 117| 124|
Mar. | 68| 90| 98|
Apr. | 79| 101| 92|
May | 109| 111| 108|
June | 110| 95| 103|
July | 72| 83| 76|
Aug. | 74| 82| 97|
Sept.| 60| 73| 88|
Oct. | 64| 88| 63|
Nov. | 70| 72| 68|
Dec. | 48| 59| 70|
-------+---------+-------+---------+

-------+-------------------+--------------+-------------
| TOTAL | Proportion |Proportion
+----------+--------+ of Sick. |of Deaths
Months.|Europeans.|Natives.| |to Cures.
| | | |
-------+----------+--------+--------------+-------------
1814.| | | |
Nov. | 229| 674|1 to 9.47 | 1 to 20⅒
Dec. | 229| 597|1 to 10⁴⁄₁₀ | 1 to 17
| | | |
1815.| | | |
Jan. | 188| 539| 1 to 11.47 | 1 to 24¼
Feb. | 195| 502| 1 to 11.72 | 1 to 35.35
Mar. | 173| 448| 1 to 12.67 | 1 to 37½
Apr. | 178| 484| 1 to 11.37 | 1 to 34⅒
May | 220| 470| 1 to 11.68 | 1 to 48.35
June | 200| 495| 1 to 11.31 | 1 to 31.57
July | 149| 436| 1 to 11⁴⁄₁₀ | 1 to 42.38
Aug. | 152| 409| 1 to 11⅟₁₄₀ | 1 to 39.57
Sept.| 123| 343| 1 to 12⁷⁄₁₀ | 1 to 58.37
Oct. | 77| 327| 1 to 15¹¹⁄₃₀| 1 to 29.76
Nov. | 42| 404| 1 to 11½ | 1 to 32⅔
Dec. | 61| 318| 1 to 10⅖ | 1 to 34⅓
-------+----------+--------+--------------+-------------
N.B.--The monthly returns from Maccassar for November and December, and
of the 5th Volunteer Battalion Javan Corps, and of a Detachment of H.M.
78th for December, had not been received when this table was framed.

_GENERAL MONTHLY AVERAGE of SICK and
CASUALTIES on the Island of JAVA and its
Dependencies, from 1st November, 1814, to 31st October, 1815,
inclusive._

_STATE of His Majesty's 1st Battalion 78th Regiment,
shewing the Effective Strength and Number died (including those
died of Wounds) killed in Action, &c. Half-yearly, from 16th
February, 1797, five days after the Regiment's landing in India, to
25th December, 1815._

Serondole, 13th March, 1816.

---------------------------------+---------------------+
Head Quarters of the |Effective Strength on|
Regiment and Dates. |the under-mentioned +
|Dates. |
+-------+-----+-------+
|Serjts.| Drs.| R & F.|
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
---------------------------------+-------+-----+-------+
Fort William, 16 Feb. 1797[283] | 53| 25| 1,146|
Berhampore, 25 June | 52| 22| 1,085|
On the River, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 993|
| | | |
Allahabad, 25 June, 1798 | 52| 22| 952|
Camp Onoopsher, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 930|
| | | |
Cawnpore, 25 June, 1792. | 52| 22| 913|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 888|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1800 | 52| 22| 869|
Fort William, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 890|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1801 | 52| 22| 857|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 897|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1802 | 52| 22| 884|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 52| 22| 865|
| | | |
Camp Rooey, 25 June, 1803 | 52| 22| 837|
---- Cuttah, 25 Dec. | 62| 22| 709|
| | | |
---- Chiohoora, 25 June, 1804 | 52| 22| 657|
Old Women's Island, Bombay, | 53| 22| 683|
25 Dec. | | | |
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1805 | 54| 22| 636|
Camp at Bombay, 25 Dec. | 54| 22| 604|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1806 | 54| 22| 683|
Butcher's Island, near | 54| 22| 668|
Bombay, 25 Dec. | | | |
| | | |
Cabo Island of Goa, 25 June, 1807| 54| 22| 686|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 54| 22| 520|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1808 | 56| 22| 706|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 57| 22| 809|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1809 | 57| 22| 772|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 57| 22| 740|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1810 | 55| 22| 989|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 54| 22| 991|
| | | |
Lowjee Family Transport, | 64| 22| 965|
25 June, 1811 | 62| 22| 770|
Surabaya, Java, 25 Dec. | | | |
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1812 | 59| 22| 674|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 54| 21| 684|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1813 | 54| 20| 625|
Ung'arang, 25 Dec. | 53| 21| 625|
| | | |
Weltevreeden, Java, 25 June, 1814| 54| 21| 597|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 52| 20| 623|
| | | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1815 | 45| 20| 583|
Serondol, 25 Dec. | 45| 21| 568|
| | | +
| | | |
---------------------------------+-------+-----+-------+

---------------------------------+---------------+
Head Quarters of the | Casualties. |
Regiment and Dates. +-------+-------+
| Dead, |Killed |
+includ-| in |
| ing |Action.|
| those | |
| that | |
| died | |
| of | |
|wounds,| |
| &c. | |
---------------------------------+-------+-------+
Fort William, 16 Feb. 1797[283] | --| --|
Berhampore, 25 June | 25| --|
On the River, 25 Dec. | 90| --|
| | |
Allahabad, 25 June, 1798 | 45| --|
Camp Onoopsher, 25 Dec. | 34| --|
| | |
Cawnpore, 25 June, 1792. | 27| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 31| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1800 | 19| --|
Fort William, 25 Dec. | 34| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1801 | 30| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 15| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1802 | 12| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 66| --|
| | |
Camp Rooey, 25 June, 1803 | 30| --|
---- Cuttah, 25 Dec. | 89| 47|
| | |
---- Chiohoora, 25 June, 1804 | 61| --|
Old Women's Island, Bombay, | 84| --|
25 Dec. | | |
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1805 | 50| --|
Camp at Bombay, 25 Dec. | 30| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1806 | 14| --|
Butcher's Island, near | 24| --|
Bombay, 25 Dec. | | |
| | |
Cabo Island of Goa, 25 June, 1807| 17| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 7| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1808 | 9| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 25| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1809 | 22| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 32| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1810 | 22| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 21| --|
| | |
Lowjee Family Transport, | 18| --|
25 June, 1811 | 166| 28|
Surabaya, Java, 25 Dec. | | |
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1812 | 101| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 93| 6|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1813 | 59| --|
Ung'arang, 25 Dec. | 22| --|
| | |
Weltevreeden, Java, 25 June, 1814| 28| --|
Ditto, 25 Dec. | 52| --|
| | |
Ditto, 25 June, 1815 | 20| --|
Serondol, 25 Dec. | 13| --|
+-------+-------+
| 1,537| 81|
---------------------------------+-------+-------+

---------------------------------+-------+-----------------
Head Quarters of the | TOTAL |PERIODS.
Regiment and Dates. + dead, |
|killed,|
|&c. &c.|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
---------------------------------+-------+-----------------
Fort William, 16 Feb. 1797[283] | } |{16 Feb. 1797, to
Berhampore, 25 June | } 115 |{24 Dec. 1797.
On the River, 25 Dec. | } |
| |
Allahabad, 25 June, 1798 | } 79 |{25 Dec. 1797, to
Camp Onoopsher, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1798.
| |
Cawnpore, 25 June, 1792. | } 58 |{25 Dec. 1798, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1799.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1800 | } 53 |{25 Dec. 1799, to
Fort William, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1800.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1801 | } 45 |{25 Dec. 1800, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1801.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1802 | } 78 |{25 Dec. 1801, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1802.
| |
Camp Rooey, 25 June, 1803 | } 166 |{25 Dec. 1802, to
---- Cuttah, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1803.
| |
---- Chiohoora, 25 June, 1804 | } 145 |{25 Dec. 1803, to
Old Women's Island, Bombay, | } |{24 Dec. 1804.
25 Dec. | |
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1805 | } 80 |{25 Dec. 1804, to
Camp at Bombay, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1805.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1806 | } 38 |{25 Dec. 1805, to
Butcher's Island, near | } |{24 Dec. 1806.
Bombay, 25 Dec. | |
| |
Cabo Island of Goa, 25 June, 1807| } 24 |{25 Dec. 1806, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1807.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1808 | } 34 |{25 Dec. 1807, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1808.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1809 | } 54 |{25 Dec. 1808, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1809.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1810 | } 43 |{25 Dec. 1809, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1810.
| |
Lowjee Family Transport, | } 212 |{25 Dec. 1810, to
25 June, 1811 | } |{24 Dec. 1811.
Surabaya, Java, 25 Dec. | |
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1812 | } 200 |{25 Dec. 1811, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1812.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1813 | } 81 |{25 Dec. 1812, to
Ung'arang, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1813.
| |
Weltevreeden, Java, 25 June, 1814| } 80 |{25 Dec. 1813, to
Ditto, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1814.
| |
Ditto, 25 June, 1815 | } 33 |{25 Dec. 1814, to
Serondol, 25 Dec. | } |{24 Dec. 1815.
+-------+
| 1,618|
---------------------------------+-------+-----------------

Of Six Companies at Serondol, died from
25th December, 1815, to 13th March, 1816 1
Of One ditto Solo ditto
25th ditto 13th ditto 2
Of Three ditto Weltevreeden, ditto
25th ditto 13th ditto 6
--
Total 9
--
Of the above six died at Weltevreeden, one died in consequence of a
fall.

NOTE _by_ N. CURRIE, _Esq. Surgeon of His Majesty's 78th Regiment, on the foregoing Table_.

When the 78th regiment first arrived at Java, the men had been long confined on board ship, living on salt provisions, and were afterwards exposed, not only to the fatigues and privations incident to actual warfare, but also to the inclemency of the weather in a tropical climate. All these causes produced a tendency to disease, and when the regiment arrived at _Surabáya_ the quarters were bad; and being in the middle of the town, free access could at all times be had to spirituous liquors. The number of diseases and of casualties was consequently great; but it diminished gradually, as the men were successively accommodated with good barracks at _De Noyo_. The whole were comfortably lodged in plastered barracks in March or April, 1813, and in May and the following month a very sensible reduction of deaths took place, as may be seen by the abstracts of those months. During the preceding months of January, February, March, and April, the deaths were numerous, but the greater proportion was among the men of a detachment of about two hundred men that joined in January, and continued to be very sickly during those four months. Almost all the men of this detachment had, when attacked, violent diseases.

A very remarkable instance of the bad effects of exposure to night air while asleep, occurred when part of the regiment was sent, in September, 1814, from _Weltevreeden_ to _Chemangis_, where the barracks were built of wattled bamboos, and the men lying with their heads to the walls, received the current of air directly in their heads. Fifty were seized with a highly inflammatory fever in the course of three days. Delirium was always the first symptom in every case, and it was necessary to bleed several of them largely before they could be sent to the hospital. By referring to the returns it will be seen that almost every increase of sickness happened after a change of quarters, as in the detachment above-mentioned, and after the removal of the regiment from _Surabáya_ to _Ung'arang_ and _Sirondol_ in October, 1813, after the expedition to _Bali_ at _Weltevreeden_ in June, 1814, and to _Chemangis_ in September 1814. An increase of sickness always took place after the use of spirituous liquors on particular holidays, as Christmas, &c.; and on the contrary, the good effects of not exposing the men to morning dews or wet, and of regularity in diet, may be seen in the healthiness of the regiment after the men got settled in good barracks at _Surabáya_ and _Weltevreeden_.

Java need no longer be held up as the grave of Europeans, for except in the immediate neighbourhood of salt marshes and forests, as in the city of _Batavia_, and two or three other places on the north coast, it may be safely affirmed that no tropical climate is superior to it in salubrity. By its insular situation, the temperature of the atmosphere is low and equable, and from its lofty mountains it possesses this great advantage, that in a few hours' travelling a climate of any degree of cold may be found.

FOOTNOTES:

[280] It appears, that subsequent to this year, no general list was kept, a list only of the number of children christened in the reformed churches being found among the registers.

[281] Since this year no specific list to be found.

[282] Mr. Robertson's observation and experience led him to give it a greater latitude, from eight or nine in the morning till twelve, and from three to six in the afternoon.

[283] Five days after our arrival in India.

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The History of Java, v. 1-2Chapter XLVII: Appendix: , A

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