Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 832922498

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-79587

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report from the Select Committee on Slave Trade (East Coast of Africa); together with the proceedings of the Committee, minutes of evidence, appendix and index

Place of publication:: [London]

Publisher:: [The House of Commons]

Year of publication:: 1871

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XXIV, 242 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM SELECT COMMITTEE Appendix, No. 8. im 3. Our stay at the island of Hallania, as well as at Muscat, was too short to enable me to torm a reliable opinion on the climate of the two places. The temperature of Hallania was similar to that which generally prevails at Aden at the same period; the excessive he^ being tempered by light breezes from the south-west. Two or more of the telegraph st^ had been suifering from slight fevers of the intermittent type, but the use of quinine sumced to remove the disease. Their isolation on this barren island, the total want of recreation, and, perhaps, the superadded impression of insecurity from attack by the Arabs of the mainland, form together a sufficient cause why the Europeans and Indo- Britons of the telegraph station are not as healthy as they might otherwise be. The few resident natives who are very poor, living mostly in caves, and migrating to different parts of the island, as the seasons change, for fishing purposes, fish beino* their principal and often their only, food, seem a hardy race. If their testimony is°to be relied on' Hallania is never subject to endemics of any kind. There are several wells on the island, all of native construction, and some of the water obtainable, though slightly brackish, is generally considered very wholesome. Many Arab boats and bungalows touch here for a supply on their way from the southward towards Muscat and the Persian gulf. . accompanying meteorological statistics suffice to prove that the heat of Muscat is excessive ; and I may further add, that the range of the thermometer very inadequately indicates the degree of sensible heat experienced. Occasionally during the day the air was so intensely scorching that chairs became uncomfortable to sit upon, and glass-ware un pleasantly hot to the touch. In like manner, during the night, gusts of scorchino- wind prevailed for several hours, which seemed as if proceeding from the mouth of an open furnace. ^ According to the testimony of the natives this extreme heat would last till the beo-innino- of July, after which the place would be cooled by light breezes from the north-east and south-west. 5. The only resident Europeans at Muscat are four gentlemen connected with the telegraph station there. As might reasonably be expected, they complained of the depressing influence of the climate at that season of the year, and one or more of them had been suffering from fever. The natives, who are by no means insensible to the heat, are, nevertheless, a healthy, sturdy-looking race, and I could not learn that any parti cular form of disease prevailed among them. Hoopingcough was very general amono" the children, and many fatal cases had occurred. Several of his Highness’s Syud Thoweynee’s younger children were suffering from it, and an infant grandchild of his had died 01 it the day before we arrived. . .^* There being no sanatory laws in force at Muscat, and an entire absence of sewerage, it IS surprising that the town should be so comparatively healthy, encircled as it is on three sides by high hills, with a population dense for a place of such limited extent. Viewed in connection with these drawbacks to salubrity and health, the rapid desiccation consequent on the excessive heat may be considered as the safeguard of the place. 7. The foregoing observations refer to the shore. The heat was not less felt afloat but, as far as I could learn, no particular ill effects were produced by it beyond those of lassituÿandproB^ation. Thecrewofthe^Puniaub^continuedashealthyasbefore.ex- cept a few cases of old complaints which reappeared for a time ; and the sick-lists of the '' Elphinstone ” and Make,” (which vessels had been several days at Muscat before our arrival), did not show any marked increase attributable to the climate of the locality. All were indeed glad to get away, and it is by no means improbable that a protracted stay at that place, at this season of the year, might be deleterious to the health of Europeans con fined together within the narrow limits of a ship. I haye, &c. (signed) J. Welsh, Assistant Surgeon.

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