always in readiness to attend, and although Captain Findlay (who,
from six year’s residence, was experienced in the baneful effects of
the climate) ventured to expostulate on Mr. Bowdich’s frequent
exposure of himself, he forwarded every scheme, by exerting his
power and authority to the utmost.
■ It was the intention to make a minute and detailed trigonometrical
survey, from the mouth of the river to Fort James, taking
in the island of Banjole, with drawings to denote the different
points particularized in the survey, and to include as much
natural history as could be ascertained during the different
excursions up and down the river.
Three weeks more were allotted for our stay, and the operations
were commenced; first, by Mr. Bowdich’s starting early every
morning for the nearer points, and returning in the evening, it
being a principal object with him to get back to Bathurst at night,
for the. sake of his astronomical observations, which he was anxious
to multiply there as much as possible’. Having secured the
immediate neighbourhood, he departed for Fort James, where he
was absent nearly a week, and where he experienced the first ill
effects he had ever felt from the sun. He had been obliged to
stand three hours on the top of the fort, waiting for the responses
to his signals, in the burning heat of noon-day, which caused
the mercury to burst the thermometer, without the smallest
shelter. On his return, nothing could induce him to rest, and
take any decisive remedy for the constant headach which annoyed
him. He even deprived himself of the requisite portion of sleep,
and one night, fearing he had slept too long, he started in haste
from his bed in a state of profuse perspiration, exposed himself,
* The observations were written in Mr. Bowdich’s memorandum-book, with initials
as references for himself; the sketches of the plan were also rudely drawn, but with
so little detail, that he alone could have made use of them; consequently, it has been
impossible to profit by his unwearied exertions.
without other covering than a linen dressing gown, to the cold
land breeze, in an open gallery, and returned like ice. This
circumstance hastened the attack which was hovering over him,
and he was seized the next morning with the usual forerunners of
fever. Every medical aid was afforded; the most unwearied and
thoughtful attention was paid him, night and day, by Captain
Findlay, and we flattered ourselves on the appearance of favourable
symptoms; but his age and temperate habits, which we hoped
would have saved him, seryed but to lengthen the struggle; they
were insufficient to counterbalance his extreme impatience at such
an interruption to his pursuits. His desire to recommence his
labours was so ardent that even when exhausted to a degree, that
we feared recollection had left him, he would call me to his bed
side, to know if I thought a Week would enable him to be carried
about in a hammock, that he might determine the few points left
undone. No entreaties, persuasions, or artifices, could dispossess
him of this one irritating anxiety, and he closed a life of virtue
and honourable activity, on the tenth of January, 1824.
The partial testimony of a wife would gain but little credit with
strangers. I do not, therefore, presume to make any comment
upon Mr. Bowdich’s talents or disposition; neither is it for me
to expatiate upon the consequences of the untimely death of one
whom Science will unceasingly mourn, as one of the most favoured
of her children, and to whose memory she will not fail to pay that
tribute, which is never withheld from departed excellence.
As for my own sorrows, were it possible for me to utter them,
I have, as a private individual, neither the right nor the inclination
to obtrude them upon general notice, conscious that the attempt
to make such feelings public must only cast suspicions upon their
sincerity.