'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎307] (356/562)

:eTe
m
stnorij
[e-back wiil 11
ed to difre;
hen 1 reinoffi
advant^i
i,
in an
r 307 ]
to their working in the fields and gardens; here are many gardens, and yet
n tr&r nrv fniif
' tS ' ^ lifclJ r
we can S et no
In this town of Karafapa are hundreds of Slcrks ; you fee them almoft
jr 0 - l? on every houfe, in every garden, and on the walls and trees. They feem
to think themfelves in great fecurity, are in no kind of fear at the fi ^ht or
approach of man or beaft. They had three or more young ones in" their
nefts. The old birds make a very odd noife with their beaks, not unlike
ams ;itfc that of the Negroes mufical finger-cracker. When this is doing, the
w paiHijj head is turned backward, and the upper bill placed on the rump, while
ro bber>. the under is fet into the quickeft motion, and made to ad upon the
md as Mstj! other: this bird's beak is eight or nine inches in length like that of the
e are alter, Pelican, and of the fame ftiape ; there is alfo a fmall red bag hanging at;
morioorftiii the throat.
prevent ftnei _ ■ _
andinteimp^ The houfe we refide in belongs to the Sheick of the village, who cleared
it of his women, and had it cleaned on our account. The walls are very
thick, whereby the heat is much lefs diftrefling than in the two preceding
I intrir i days. The water here would have been good, had it been firft fined, but
this our fervants carelefly negleded : we find by experience, that half an
ounce of the powder of Alum, thrown into 12 or 14 gallons of muddy water,
will in an hour and half make it perfedly clear; learning this before we
left Bajfora^ we there fupplied ourfelves with a fufficiency of Alum for thefe
ufes. We found no inconvenience from the Alum, and I am inclined to
think that it is not only an excellent purifier of thick muddy water, but that
in hot climates, it cools the body and braces up the relaxed fibres.
At m R
^ At fix this evening, the weather was cloudy, which we very feldom had
an opportunity of noting before •, the air fince we left Bajfora, has been very
d ^ i: : : dry, a few nights on the Euphrates excepted. The primings to our fire-
whicli tk t locks and piftols were never damp. Our Aga here acquainted us, that he
thought it proper to take with us the armed men of the place, and if we
approved of it, he would fpeak to the Commandant to be ready to march.
Covered3(By virtue of his order from the Bajha he could command this •, neverthelefs
a pecuniary fatisfaftion from us will be ©xpeded). We contented, and at
ir we goi^ feven fet out with our guard confifting of an officer and 12 horfemen equip-
: o i^: ped with piftols and lances.
r, [jpi
On our left were the ruins of fome houfes and at a quarter after feven a
e Chocarda who rode poft, pafled us, accompanied with two horfemen fervants;
they were from Moful going to Baghdad, and their news was, that the
Bafha from Aleppo was expeded at Mojul next Monday, and that two Caravans
were ftill detained there. At half paft eight, there fell a fliower of la^gc
drops of rain ; a fliort but acceptable refrefhmejit to fuch thirfty, panting
ve wretches as we are.
,0^ - R r 2 At