My illness was the first break up in our little community, and from that time, it rarely happened that one or two of us were not confined to our beds.

The extreme saltness of the water, the poor quality of our food, together with the excessive heat and dryness of the climate, long retarded my recovery, and when it did take place, it was looked on as a miracle by those who had seen me in my worst state, and who thought it impossible for me to survive.

I was no sooner convalescent than Mr.Ritchie fell ill, and was confined to his bed with an attack of bilious fever, accompanied with delirium, and great pain in his back and kidneys, for which he required frequent cupping.

When a little recovered, he got up for two days, but his disorder soon returned with redoubled and alarming violence.

He rejected every thing but water, and, excepting about three hours in the afternoon, remained either constantly asleep or in a delirious state.