WEST INDIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 7 May 1853, Page 10

WEST INDIES.

By the " Hampshire" we have accounts from the West India Islands to the middle of December. The yellow fever was prevailing to a fearful extent in Demerara, Barbadoes, St. Thomas, Jamaica, and the French] Islands. H. M. S. " Dauntless," lying in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, had lost no less than 13 officers and 60 men from this frightful epidemic. Several of the R.M. S. Company's vessels have likewise experienced severe losses in men and officers. The " Magdalena," which arrived at Southampton on the Bth of January, lost 8 of her crew and 2 passengers on her homeward passage, and the chief Steward died after pratique had been granted. Mortality had likewise occurred on board the Steamers "Dee," "Esk," " Conway," "Thames," and " Great Western." We give a few extracts from the Papers.

The Demerara Royal Gazette, on the subject of the mortality among the shipping from fever, says:—

"The daily mortality among seamen must press some remedial measure upon the Government. Our merchant ships lie in the stream of a tidal river, exposed to the hourly contamination of. the filth of a filthy city. The deposit under our wharves gives out at all times an impure effluvium ; coupled with hot berths on board, heavy night dews, a little intemperance, and the annoyance of rnusquitoes, there is no wonder that this tropical scourge sets its seal on so many of our unfortunate seamen. The garrison, like the city, is comparatively quite healthy."

With regard to the escape of French exiles from Cayenne, the following extract of a letter from Surinam appears in the Demerara Co-

lonist : —

'| Afew days since the American brig " Mermaid," from Cayenne for Boston, discovered three of the expatriated Frenchmen concealed on board. The " Mermaid" being a regular trader between Boston and Cayenne, the captain was apprehensive of difficulty on his return should he take them to the United States and therefore put into Surinam, where the French war steamer " Vovageur" was lying, and communicated with the United States' Consul, who recommended the unfortunate individuals to remain on board the " Mermaid." The captain of the " Voyageur" then demanded of the captain of the " Mermaid" that they should be delivered up to him, which was refused, and he immediately sailed for Cayenne, for instructions from the Governor. The steamer returned on the 20th Nov., when the " Mermaid" had sailed, and the refugees had left, either in her or some other vessel, for the United States."

From Barbadoes we learn that the yellow fever had not ceased its ravages, and the death of Colonel O'Brien is reported. The West Indian of the 4th Dec. states:—

" Last week and this the gradual disappearance of yellow fever in the city led us to indulge the hope that we should soon have to read the form of Thanksgiving in our places of worship for deliverance from ' this grievous plague and sickness;' but God has ordered it otherwise. The epidemic is still severely prevalent With sincere regret we hear that the mortality amon<" the officers and men landed from Her Majesty'! ship ' Dauntless" continues to a dreadful extent. Since the death of Mr. Flood, the first Lieutenant, the fever has carried off three more officers (making 13 officers in all), viz., Mr. Crispin, midshipman ; Mr. Kent, second lieu-

tenant; and Mr. Davis, third engineer, and several seamen. Additional cases of a severe type are brought on shore daily. The latest reports of the state of the " Dauntless" mention that I her crew were still very sickly, and she had lost 13 officers and 60 men."

Considerable exports of " pozzolano" having taken. place from St. Vincent, the Mirror of that island gives the subjoined account:— . " We are glad to find that the peculiar properties of this description of earth, with which our island abounds, of quality far superior to what may be had from any other island, are now being very generally understood, and that

the article, from the increasing demand for it,

is likely to become before long one of regular " exportation from St. Vincent. Nearly 2,000 tons have been exported hence to Bermuda during the last three years, where it is used by Government upon the erection of an extensive breakwater at Ireland Island, and is found to be very far superior to anything hitherto used for similar purposes. It has also been recently analysed by eminent chemists in England, and

pronounced by them an invaluable manure, superior to Guano. In Trinidad and several other colonies it has been tried successfully for

various purposes, and we have the attestations of reputable scientific men that, for every description of constructions under water, the pozzolano is far preferable to Roman Cement."