This reply disconcerted him a little; however, he explained away his
meaning, in making learned distinctions between what was absolutely
necessary and what was only convenient; then proceeded to ask what
religion I professed. I answered, that I had not as yet considered
the difference of religions, consequently had not fixed on any one
in particular, but that I was bred a Presbyterian. At this word
the chaplain expressed great astonishment, and said, he could not
comprehend how a presbyterian was entitled to any post under the
English government. Then he asked if I had ever received the sacrament,
or taken the oaths; to which questions, I replying in the negative,
he held up his hands, assured me he could do me no service, wished
I might not be in a state of reprobation, and returned to his
messmates, who were making merry in the ward-room, round a table
well stored with bumbo[2] and wine.
[2]bumbo is a liquor composed of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg
This insinuation, terrible as it was, had not such an effect upon
me as the fever, which, soon after he had left me, grew outrageous. I
began to see strange chimeras and concluded myself upon the point
of being delirious; in the meantime, being in great danger of
suffocation, I started up in a kind of frantic fit, with an intention
to plunge myself into the sea; and, as my friend the sergeant was
not present, would certainly have cooled myself to some purpose,
had I not perceived a moisture upon my thigh, as I endeavoured to
get out of my hammock: the appearance of this revived my hopes,
and I had reflection and resolution enough to take the advantage
of this favourable symptom, by tearing the shirt from my body, and
the sheets from my bed, and wrapping myself in a thick blanket,
in which inclosure, for about a quarter of an hour, felt all the
pains of hell: but it was not long before I was recompensed for
my suffering by a profuse sweat, that, bursting from the whole
surface of my skin, in less than two hours, relieved me from all
my complaints except that of weakness; and left me as hungry as a
kite.
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