And in addition to this, we were on a short allowance of beef, pork, and bread. The latter had become wormy and scarcely fit for food; the peas, flour, and rice, were all expended, our water was short, and we were on an allowance of five pints for twenty-four hours. We were fortunate enough one day during a heavy thunder storm, to catch a quantity of rain-water, from which wo all had a good drink, and then filled up our breakers. While I was at work on board the Two Catherines, at San Bias, it rained in showers every day, but not minding it, as I was anxious to finish the mast, and as the weather was warm, had no fear of being injured by it, so kept wet throughout the day.
At the wooding place, I exposed myself very imprudently wading about in the water, iu assisting to get my timber on board. The day after leaving Payta, I was taken quite ill, and reported myself to the doctor, who gave me a dose of something, which was to be taken in a quart of warm water. I had hardly swallowed this nauseous draught, when I became delirious, and entirely prostrated, raving like a madman, but my messmates.were by me, and kindly administered to my wants. My delirium finally abated, and was succeeded by a high fever that in a few days terminated in severe ao'ue-fits, or fever and ao-ue. The disease soon reduced me very low; I suffered much for want of water; what I drank was so warm that it would not remain upon my stomach.
The disease had so reduced me that it became necessary to have a man at my side, night and day. I was removed to the gun-deck, where there was a greater circulation of air. Near by me was a man who was taken down about as I was. He lingered a few days, and then died. Mr. Johnson, lieutenant of marines, also died with fever; he came to see me only a few days before he expired. Next our chaplain, Mr. Wilson, was taken down and died; likewise several seamen were taken off by this epidemic. When a seaman died at night in the sick bay, early in the morning he was brought out and laid upon a grating, nearly under my hammock, so that frequently the first thing when I awoke, was to look under my hammock to see if there was a dead body there.
I began slowly to recover but was so much reduced, it was some time, before I had gained sufficient strength to walk. During my convalescence I had a craving appetite, and nothing to satisfy it with, and when I had recovered sufficient strength, went about preparing to build the large boat before alluded to, as I was aware that our stay would be short at Valparaiso, and that the boat must be built during the time we remained there, whether it be long or short, I did everything in my power to regain my health, used much exercise, rubbing myself freely, either with a brush, or piece of canvas, bathing every morning, which by so doing, I gained strength very fast, and before we arrived at Valparaiso, had nearly recovered.
We had been absent about eight months, when our anchor was let go again abreast the old fort at Valparaiso. Our happy ship was now to be turned into a hell. The anchor was hardly down, before the purser was on shore making arrangements for provisioning the ship. Whiskey was the first article sent on board: then came beef, vegetables, and bread. The whiskey rations of half a pint to a man, was immediately served out; this, together with what was bought from the bomb boats by the men, occasioned a scene at night that is beyond description. I was aware of all this before we arrived, and tried to caution those that I knew would sway away again as soon as they could get it.
Among these was my friend, the marine, William N n, who, hefore eight o'clock, P. M., was blind drunk, and stowed away among the hags. Yelling and fighting was now the order of the night, as there was scarcely a sober man in the ship. The old master-at-arms was drunk among the rest, and before morning, twenty-three were in double irons for fighting, and insolence to officers. I made out in the tumult, to get a good supper, and think I ate as much at that meal, as would ordinarily serve me for three.