ing^ mind.19 We shall, therefore, leave this point, and turn hack
again to the Report of Major Tulloch, where we find some interesting
facts, respecting the negro race, in the Mauritius, which will not
bear curtailment.
Black Pioneers.— " These military laborers hare been enlisted for the p u rp le of relieving
the European soldiers from the performance of fatigue and other duties, which subjected
em to much exposure. They are all negroes, who have either been born in the Mauritius
or brought from Madagascar and Mozambique, on the eastern coast of Africa. They are
described as being a more robust and athletic race than those composing the West India
regiments. . . .
“ A table exhibits the admissions into hospital and deaths among these troops since 1825
■ r Sw ^ ^ H 18 ahn0St eXaotIy the same as amonS the bIa<* troops and pioneers
in the Wmdward and Leeward command: the former being as 839 to'820, and the latter as
87 to 40 per 1000, of mean strength annually; so that the Mauritius and West Indies seem
alike unsuited to the constitution of the negro. This shows how vain is the expectation even
under the most favorable circumstances, of that race ever keeping up or perpetuating their
number in either of these colonies, when men in the prime of life, selected for their strength
and capability for labor, subject to no physical defect at enlistment, and secured by military
regulations from all harsh treatment, die nearly four times as rapidly as the aboriginal inhabitants
of the Cape, or other healthy countries, at the same age; and al least thrice as rapidly as
the white population of the Mauritius. Indeed, so fast is the negro race decreasing there, that,
tn five years, the deaths have exceeded the births by upwards of 6000, in a population of 60,000.
of dlffil Ult U,.ma7 be *° “ Sign an efBcient eause’ 1 13 oertain tba‘ inhabitants
of different countries have different susceptibilities for particular diseases. Fevers for
instance, have little influence on the negro race, in the Mauritius; for no death has occurred
from them and the admissions have been in much the same proportion as among an equal
number of persons in the United Kingdom; but here, as in all other colonies in which we
have been able to trace the fatal diseases of the negro, the great source of mortality has
been that of the lungs ; indeed, more die from that class alone, than of Hottentot troops,
at the Cape, from all diseases together; but the latter are serving in their natural climate,
adlpt™3elfm °ne 411611 ° ° nStit,lti011 has neTer a<*aPted, and probably never will
“ M a jo r T u l lo ch compares the mortality of the negro, from diseases of the lungs, in
nous colonies.. There died annually of these affections, per 1000 of mean stfength—
West coast of Africa.....................................>,........................ 6 3
Honduras ........................ ^ g ^
Bahamas................................................................. , ' g^
Jamaica j '
Mauritius................................ A ......
Windward and Leeward Command *
Gibraltar 1 l l ¿0.0
Thus, m his native country, the negro appears to suffer from these diseases in much
the same proportion as British troops in their native country: but, so soon as he goes
beyond it, the mortality increases, till, in some colonies, it attains to such a height as
Tpulation Pr6°1Ude the P°ssibility of M3 ever forming a healthy or increasing
“ It IS i n vain that we look for the cause of this remarkable difference, either in tempo
19 See the distinction between “ bilious and yellow fever,” in the E s sa y by P r o p . R i c h a r d
D. A r n o l d , M. D., of Savannah, read before the Medical Society of the State of Georgia,
Augusta, Ga., 1856.
rature, moisture, or any of those appreciable atmospheric agenoies by which the human
frame is likely to be affected in some climates more than others; and it is consequently
impossible, from any other data than that which the experience of medical reoords furnishes,
to say where this class of troops can be employed with advantage. Nearly two-
thirds of the mortality from diseases of the lungs, among negroes, arises from pulmonary
consumption; and it is worthy of remark, as showing how little that disease affects the
natives of some tropical climates, though it proves so fatal to tHose of others, that, among
71,850 native troops serving in the Madras Presidency, the deaths by every description of
disease of the lungs, did not, on the average of five years, exceed 1 per 1000 of the strength
annually. ”
In the “ Journal of the Statistical Society of London,” will be found
another exceedingly interesting paper by the same writer, now
Lieut-Colonel Tulloch, F.S.S., in continuation of the same subject,
and giving later statistics.30 He says:
“ The preceding tables apply entirely to European troops serving abroad. It may now
prove interesting to extend a similar course of observations to the influence of the same
climates on the mortality of native or black troops, during the same periods. Of these I
shall first advert.to the Malta Fencibles, composed of persons born in the island.
“ The strength of this corps, and the deaths antecedent to the 31st March, 1846, were as
follows:
STRENGTH. DEATHS.
Tear ending 31st March, 1845.......,................... ........ 575 5
“ 1846............................... 574 g
being fit the rate of 8/^ per thousand, on the average of these two years; while the average
from 1825, when this corps was raised, till 1836, a period of eleven years, was 9 per 1000
annually. Thus, this corps proved one of the healthiest in the service; and, as in the case
of other troops serving in the colonies, its health and efficiency seem to be on the increase.
“ The Cape corps, composed of Hottentots, shows, however, a still lower degree of mortality
during the same period: the strength and deaths for these two years having been
respectively as follows:
STRENGTH. DEATHS.
Year ending 31st March, 1845 420 3
1846 ..... 1....................4 448 3
Average of these two years............... 434 ”3
being at the rate of 7 per 1000 annually; while the mortality in the same corps, on the
average of the thirteen years antecedent to 1836, was 12 per 1000 annually—thus showing
a great reduction of late years.
“ The ratio of mortality in both those corps has been much below what is usual, even
among the most select lives in this country (England); and shows the great advantage,
wherever it is practicable, of employing the native inhabitants of our colonies, as a defensive
force, in preference to regular troops sent from this country.
“ On comparing the diet and habits of men composing these two corps (which exhibit so
low a degree of mortality during a long series Of years), they will be found diametrically
opposite: the Maltese soldier living principally on vegetable diet, and rarely indulging in
the use of fermented or spirituous liquors, while the Hottentot soldier, like others of his
race, lives principally on animal food, and-that of the coarsest description. Owing to the
want of rain and the uncertainty of the crops, grain is often very scarpe on the eastern
20 L i e u t . -C o l . A. M. T u l l o c h , F.S.S., "O n the M o rta lity among H e r Majesty's troops
serving in the Colonies during the years 1844-5.” Read before the Statistical Society, Jan.
21,1847. .