Volume 2 — APPENDIX, A.
Reading edition
The annexed documents, as far as they can be relied on, afford evidence of an extent of mortality in Batavia, as compared with the number of inhabitants, that was perhaps never exampled, for the same space of time, in any other quarter of the world.
The Table No. I., incomplete as it is, was drawn out with as much exactness as the original lists and registers still in possession would admit of. In explanation of some inconsistencies which are exhibited in it, it is necessary to observe, that on the occasion of the capture of this island, part of the most valuable papers were lost or destroyed, and amongst them the register in which was stated the Chinese population, and the number of their deaths and marriages annually, which is the reason why no mention is made of them in this table.
The first and third columns contain only the numbers of European inhabitants.
The last column, which shews the deaths of the Natives and Slaves, is probably a list of the deceased slaves only; because there was a separate list kept of the natives who died annually in the Batavian jurisdiction, which, however, was for a long time incorrect, and at last destroyed in 1811.
It is also probable, that the column of deaths generally does not extend farther than in the town and immediate suburbs; and the other two columns of baptisms and marriages extend over the town, suburbs, and environs together.
The specific lists kept in the different hospitals were likewise lost. This is to be particularly lamented, because they would have shewn how many of the European deaths were inhabitants, military persons, strangers, or sailors or marines from the ships of the different nations in Batavia Roads, who all sent their sick men into the hospitals of Batavia, who, when dead, were comprehended in the number of European deaths. This circumstance explains the incorrectness which appears to exist in the two statements of the living and deceased Europeans.
The Table No. II. was discovered among the records of the Dutch government at Batavia, and in the absence of a more official document, may, perhaps, on that account, be entitled to some confidence.
TABLE, No. I.
List
of the
Population
,
Marriages
,
Baptisms
, and
Deaths
, in the Town and Suburbs of
Batavia
, from 1700 to 1813, as far as the same could be ascertained from the Registers, &c. after the Conquest of Java in 1811.
POPULATION. MARRIAGES. BAPTISMS. DEATHS.
Within the Walls. In the Suburbs. Europeans. Half Casts and Other Christians. Europeans' Children. Those of Half Casts and Other Christians. Europeans, Half Casts, &c. Natives, Slaves, &c.
Europeans. Europeans & Natives. Europeans. Europeans & Natives.
1700 1,875 20,072 215 32,478 74 134 119 565 697 975
1701 1,715 19,084 321 48,972 65 126 76 341 736 815
1702 1,755 19,683 309 45,452 76 120 83 616 1,088 1,336
1703 1,835 18,580 534 47,123 72 133 190 443 856 931
1704 1,898 22,150 470 49,351 74 144 96 466 442 1,148
1705 1,771 19,752 — — 55 133 100 441 688 1,800
1706 1,923 21,899 417 49,483 79 127 84 447 841 1,839
1707 1,826 21,632 411 47,026 60 116 88 471 655 1,371
1708 1,769 20,922 402 54,628 49 134 87 638 651 1,481
1709 1,681 20,600 412 55,581 64 138 82 575 804 1,828
1710 1,716 20,850 368 58,761 41 152 108 628 684 1,313
1711 1,723 21,517 341 57,843 63 154 110 555 766 1,487
1712 1,656 21,538 448 65,865 60 141 110 595/ 684 1,278
1713 1,566 19,007 503 69,110 56 154 747[280] 599 1,022
1714 1,644 19,758 553 66,092 60 150 703 608 1,085
1715 1,663 22,242 411 64,657 43 159 759 567 1,074
1716 1,516 18,947 446 60,236 37 129 688 606 1,207
1717 1,443 18,965 290 59,831 41 147 578 716 1,322
1718 — — — — — — 663 — —
1719 1,409 19,411 308 68,082 59 154 631 857 1,869
1720 1,610 21,156 361 67,792 68 148 529 977 1,685
1721 1,477 20,520 387 67,044 53 80 467 772 1,210
1722 695 11,252 417 67,339 61 132 649 193 813
1723 1,606 23,716 363 66,079 43 119 610 985 1,597
1724 1,562 23,428 341 62,966 34 172 781 934 1,755
1725 1,615 23,752 332 72,218 60 150 637 958 2,085
Within the Walls and immediate Suburbs. In the Vicinity and Environs. In the Reformed Churches, and since 1746, in the Lutheran Church.
1726 1,452 22,814 304 76,893 58 118 616 994 487
1727 — — — — — — 740 — —
1728 1,538 15,343 289 73,141 50 155 648 768 590
1729 1,389 20,677 232 81,977 52 135 736 754 500
1730 1,330 20,429 209 80,756 45 167 763 857 1,800
1731 1,431 22,658 241 82,204 45 128 783 886 1,066
1732 1,445 22,646 211 83,602 55 142 625 1,003 689
1733 — — — — — — 554 — —
1734 — — — — — — 432 — —
1735 1,338 20,587 224 74,367 65 166 561 240 667
1736 — — — — 48 — 727 — —
1737 1,317 19,612 266 67,170 48 133 572 1,966 705
1738 1,350 11,212 212 64,090 49 133 448 2,002 919
1739 1,286 18,502 272 68,229 51 179 658 1,068 668
1740 1,420 14,141 269 72,506 47 90 518 1,317 338
1741 1,388 13,977 287 47,583 52 124 670 1,278 406
1742 — — 259 56,882 47 118 602 1,286 547
1743 1,481 14,609 321 55,023 84 119 639 1,526 682
1744 — — — — — — 673 — —
1745 1,517 14,926 278 67,254 60 117 592 1,965 1,062
1746 1,597 13,852 242 68,785 — — 574 — —
1747 1,525 13,854 240 73,163 — — 670 — —
1748 — — — — — — 627 — —
1749 1,541 14,050 318 77,008 39 115 705 1,662 556
1750 1,520 14,278 313 80,597 63 105 571 2,229 569
1751 1,439 13,874 336 78,259 38 84/ 550 2,189 502
1752 1,513 14,596 311 75,152 135[281] 600 1,858 562
1753 1,651 15,710 325 76,611 132 457 1,789 1,542
1754 1,575 15,891 358 93,375 136 553 1,729 617
Within the Town and all the Suburbs.
1755 1,599 16,466 369 95,938 146 484 2,532 630
1756 1,604 15,925 310 96,702 143 410 1,729 547
1757 1,629 16,356 373 103,443 137 465 1,557 561
1758 1,560 16,855 447 106,151 128 468 1,781 1,082
1759 1,572 16,942 377 111,273 97 437 1,451 636
1760 1,634 16,785 410 109,393 124 450 1,403 1,064
1761 1,499 16,298 305 113,280 — 387 1,110 980
1762 — — — — — 471 — —
1763 1,507 16,282 447 113,009 112 435 2,001 1,134
1764 — 16,008 413 117,207 131 297 1,907 585
1765 — — — — — 357 — —
1766 — — — — — 356 — —
1767 — — — — — 306 — —
1768 1,642 15,256 273 108,507 93 329 1,933 537
1769 1,271 15,430 389 114,750 124 369 1,869 667
1770 1,183 13,192 328 123,869 126 302 2,871 2,672
1771 1,105 12,233 300 121,380 93 245 2,425 622
1772 1,011 12,743 348 112,346 108 301 2,437 2,256
1773 1,061 13,473 342 107,500 98 284 2,029 534
1774 933 12,134 367 108,215 97 295 2,452 866
1775 1,165 13,512 328 125,635 214 307 2,997 3,007
1776 — — 276 131,895 100 303 3,055 1,199
1777 896 10,661 279 140,332 98 277 1,394 2,031
1778 1,137 12,206 238 135,532 104 253 1,804 2,131
1779 — — 302 160,986 82 290 1,524 1,717
1780 747 13,651 278 129,943 113 259 1,418 1,435
1781 — — — — — 272 — —
1782 664 9,517 276 127,039 75 260 733 1,692
1783 — — — — — 292 — —
1784 695 10,422 336 129,506 81 279 1,439 1,669
1785 — — — — — 243 — —
1786 — — — — — 238 — —
1787 574 9,910 375 133,151 58 230 1,939 1,278
1788 — — — — — 284 — —
1789 — — — — — 236 — —
1790 — — — — 69 220 2,379 1,672
1791 325 6,367 450 120,352 48 216 2,228 1,590
1792 254 8,121 282 119,297 59 171 1,990 1,131
1793 254 8,121 282 119,297 48 149 1,805 1,030
1794 — — — — — 215 — —
1795 — — — — 92 183 1,121 953
1796 — — — — 67 173 — —
1797 — — — — 52 210 215 930
1798 — — — — 68 173 280 675
1799 — — — — — 236 — —
1800 — — — — 68 169 106 1,168
1801 — — — — 32 169 — —
1802 — — — — — 207 — —
1803 — — — — 58 182 263 2,356
1804 — — 378 72,830 — 190 255 —
1805 — — 500 73,728 83 164 — —
1806 — — — — 50 171 — —
1807 — — — — 86 186 — 2,549
1808 — — — — — 151 — —
1809 — — — — — 131 — —
1810 — — — — — 167 — —
1811 — — — — — 136 — —
1812 — — — — — 115 — —
1813 — — — — — 138 — —
TABLE, No. II.
List
of
Deceased
and
Buried
in the several Burial Places at
Batavia
, from the Year 1730, till the Month of August, 1752.
[Translated from a Document discovered among the Records of the Dutch Government at Batavia.]
Numb. deceased.
1730.
January 3,862
February 3,786
March 3,928
April 3,860
May 3,862
June 3,889
July 4,268
August 4,404
September 4,597
October 4,290
November 3,965
December 3,739
48,450
1731.
January 3,699
February 3,705
March 3,827
April 3,833
May 3,711
June 3,788
July 4,480
August 4,527
September 4,916
October 4,512
November 4,412
December 4,430
49,840
1732.
January 4,359
February 4,047
March 4,046
April 4,060
May 4,066
June 4,191
July 4,515
August 4,758
September 5,314
October 4,912
November 4,344
December 4,305
52,917
1733.
January 4,205
February 4,261
March 3,989
April 3,948
May 3,747
June 3,840
July 3,885
August 3,805
September 4,147
October 4,148
November 3,906
December 3,864
47,745
1734.
January 3,830
February 3,963
March 3,914
April 3,725
May 3,711
June 3,550
July 3,772
August 4,294
September 5,303
October 4,237
November 4,025
December 4,021
48,145
1735.
January 3,722
February 3,775
March 3,830
April 3,757
May 3,780
June 3,968
July 4,141
August 4,041
September 4,058
October 4,050
November 3,966
December 3,962
47,050
1736.
January 4,110
February 3,909
March 3,815
April 3,778
May 3,760
June 3,699
July 4,063
August 4,078
September 4,260
October 4,110
November 3,841
December 4,080
47,503
1737.
January 4,066
February 4,093
March 3,707
April 3,561
May 3,485
June 3,358
July 3,357
August 3,400
September 2,501
October 4,054
November 4,057
December 4,061
43,709
1738.
January 3,784
February 3,572
March 3,570
April 3,718
May 3,717
June 4,018
July 4,045
August 3,771
September 4,110
October 4,293
November 4,030
December 4,158
46,786
1739.
January 4,039
February 4,017
March 3,909
April 3,759
May 3,885
June 3,985
July 4,266
August 4,273
September 4,053
October 4,139
November 4,189
December 4,084
48,598
1740.
January 3,851
February 3,747
March 3,758
April 3,878
May 4,090
June 4,424
July 4,536
August 4,321
September 4,538
October 4,514
November 4,224
December 4,083
49,964
1741.
January 4,010
February 3,842
March 3,893
April 3,824
May 3,958
June 4,057
July 4,136
August 3,764
September 4,093
October 3,888
November 3,766
December 3,712
46,943
1742.
January 2,849
February 3,731
March 3,780
April 3,811
May 2,185
June 3,665
July 3,915
August 3,976
September 3,546
October 3,537
November 3,646
December 4,021
42,662
1743.
January 3,744
February 3,659
March 3,399
April 3,407
May 3,418
June 4,448
July 3,822
August 3,937
September 3,641
October 3,798
November 3,852
December 4,011
45,136
1744.
January 4,114
February 3,974
March 3,682
April 3,723
May 3,790
June 3,808
July 3,847
August 3,601
September 5,904
October 3,914
November 4,140
December 4,064
47,661
1745.
January 3,952
February 3,765
March 3,212
April 3,230
May 3,290
June 3,327
July 3,655
August 3,736
September 4,197
October 3,632
November 3,486
December 3,526
43,008
1746.
January 3,479
February 3,491
March 3,459
April 3,373
May 3,435
June 3,950
July 4,750
August 4,210
September 4,110
October 4,214
November 4,483
December 4,874
47,828
1747.
January 4,414
February 4,389
March 4,305
April 4,159
May 4,599
June 4,978
July 5,355
August 4,946
September 5,016
October 3,028
November 4,506
December 4,603
54,298
1748.
January 4,459
February 4,322
March 4,796
April 4,689
May 4,603
June 5,106
July 4,469
August 4,355
September 5,034
October 5,169
November 5,140
December 4,864
57,006
1749.
January 4,870
February 4,452
March 4,332
April 4,505
May 4,425
June 4,589
July 4,656
August 4,174
September 4,398
October 4,684
November 4,537
December 4,893
54,515
1750.
January 4,546
February 4,352
March 4,417
April 4,619
May 5,227
June 5,072
July 5,277
August 5,134
September 4,872
October 4,580
November 4,526
December 4,508
57,130
1751.
January 4,543
February 4,128
March 4,163
April 4,170
May 3,967
June 4,967
July 6,904
August 5,566
September 5,699
October 5,344
November 4,612
December 4,533
58,605
1752.
January 3,923
February 3,941
March 4,272
April 4,116
May 4,466
June 4,285
July 4,359
August 4,514
33,876
During twenty-two years and eight months,
Grand Total 1,119,375
The unhealthiness of the climate of Batavia is connected, in the minds of many, with the fabulous properties of the poison tree of Java, and many are so ignorant of the island as to consider the climate of Batavia as a fair example of that of Java in general. History attests that this city has been highly pernicious to the health both of Europeans and Natives, almost from its foundation, and recent experience concurs with the testimony of history. The mines of America, when they were first discovered, did not more strongly allure the Spaniards, nor urged them to sacrifice more relentlessly the lives of the unresisting natives to their burning thirst of gold, than the monopoly of Java and the Spice Islands led the Dutch Company, in the track of wealth, through danger, injustice and oppression. Though the unhealthiness of Batavia was at all times known and formidable, there were times when the mortality became extraordinary and alarming. Although not prone to any speculation, except that of merchants, or to any inquiry, except for a new market or a more lucrative channel of trade, the Company's Government in India was sometimes forced to institute inquiries into the cause of this insalubrity, and to speculate about the possibility and the means of removing it. Passing by other occasions, there exists on the records of the High Regency a reply to queries about the unhealthiness of Batavia, dated the 14th of October 1753. This paper states that between 1732 and 1738, the greatest number of casualties happened. It assigns, as a great cause of the insalubrity complained of, the situation of the town in a bay, confined on the west and east by projecting points of land, and inclosed in front by a cluster of small islands. The space between the town and the sea is chiefly mud, left by the retreating of the sea: a swamp surrounds the town. The mouths of the rivers are generally covered with underwood and a species of tree peculiar to swamps. The vegetation of these low grounds, it is added, cannot but retain impurities of the most noxious kind. The space which is formed at the mouths of the rivers Táng'ran and Ang'ki is an entire swamp, covered with shrubs which emit exhalations of an impure nature: these are interspersed with the burying grounds of the natives, and the effluvia of these places is felt at some distance. It was believed that the earthquake of 1699, by forcing mud from under the earth and blocking up the mouths of the rivers more than formerly, contributed to increase the previously existing unhealthiness. The lime kilns in the neighbourhood, the close plantations of trees that prevent a free circulation of air, the stagnation of the rivers from the bars of mud or sand which obstruct their out-course into the sea, the kind of water which the inhabitants are compelled to drink, the narrowness of their houses, and the dirt and filth accumulated in the numerous canals that intersect the town, have all their due share of pernicious efficiency assigned them in this report. The buildings, it is said, are admirably adapted to keep out the fresh air, and to retain that which is putrid or noxious. To remedy the evils felt, a new construction of houses is recommended, and a frequent pruning or entire extirpation of the trees.
The fever, which excited this inquiry, commenced in 1733 and lasted till 1738, and, during its continuance, two thousand of the Company's servants and free Christians annually died. In 1739 its violence abated; but it broke out again in 1744, and continued with little diminution or variation to the date of the report in 1753.
Without stopping to inquire whether it would be easier to remove disease from Batavia, or the inhabitants of Batavia from disease, I shall take the liberty of quoting an extract from a report on the climate of some parts of Java, drawn up by Mr. Robertson, the late Superintending Surgeon, which appears to me to afford a satisfactory account of the causes of the insalubrity of the capital. After giving a statement of the mortality that prevailed in an Indiaman, a part of the crew of which landed at Batavia, he thus proceeds.
"Such is the melancholy instance of the noxious climate of Batavia, which came within my own observation. That it was not epidemic is clearly evinced, from its not extending its influence to those who attended the sick, nor to the rest of the crew, all of whom escaped its attack and remained healthy. Among the Dutch who remain in the town, fevers are, I understand, very prevalent at all seasons, notwithstanding their being, in a manner, inured to the climate, and most of them have a sallow sickly appearance. It is not uncommon, in riding through the streets, to meet three or four funerals daily.
"The Chinese, however, who are very numerous, suffer more than any class of the people; perhaps, from the worse situations of their houses, the manner in which these are crowded, the closeness of their apartments, and their gross manner of living. The number of casualties among them, I am told, is incredible, especially during the dry season; and if one may judge from the extent of their burial ground, and the number of their tumuli, it cannot admit of a doubt. The preceding facts are, I conclude, sufficient to establish the truth of the noxious character the climate of Batavia has so long obtained, and I shall now proceed to the causes which have been often investigated, and seem well ascertained, though the knowledge of them has led to little exertion for their removal.
"The baneful effects of marsh miasmata on the human system is well known, engendering intermittent and remittent fevers, dysenteries, and visceral obstructions. Batavia, built almost in a swamp, surrounded by marshes in all directions, trees and jungles, which prevent the exhalations being carried off by a free circulation of air, is peculiarly obnoxious from this cause. Opposite the mouth of the river, and extending a great way to the westward, is a mud-bank, which, in many parts at low water, is uncovered by the sea, and is daily accumulating from the quantities of mud and animal and vegetable matter carried down by the river during its reflux. Again the sea, often at spring tides, overflows the adjacent country, and, on its receding, leaves the soil covered with slime and mud, which, exposed to the action of the sun, soon suffers decomposition, and impregnates the atmosphere with its noxious exhalations, which are carried by the sea breeze over Batavia, where the trees and jungles surrounding the houses prevent their being dissipated. During the heat of the day these exhalations are more diffused and comparatively innoxious, but when the sun withdraws its influence they become more condensed, and amalgamating with the descending evening dews form a morbid atmosphere around the houses of the inhabitants. This hypothesis will readily account for a fact well known, that people whose commercial concerns require their presence in Batavia during the day, and who retire during the night into the country, escape this endemic, while scarcely any who sleep in the town, even for a night, unless those who, by a long residence, are inured to it, escape. In the ingenious and sensible work formerly alluded to (Mr. Johnson's), I find this hypothesis so clearly and perspicuously expounded, that I must take the liberty of quoting it.
"'The cause why the stench emitted by marshes and vegetable matter in a state of decomposition is more perceptible immediately after sunset, is not that the vapours are disengaged in greater quantities then than during the day, but the marshes retain their heat for some time after the sun's rays are withdrawn, and consequently continue to emit vapours through the atmosphere, as during the high temperature of the day by the sun. They therefore meet the descending dews, condensing and forming a thick fog, which hovers over the swamps, accompanied by a noxious and disagreeable odour. The miasmata exhaled during the day, in all probability, descend with the dews of the evening, which, meeting and combining with those that continue to be disengaged from their source, must form a concentration highly capable of affecting the constitution. Marsh effluvia become at a certain distance from their source innoxious. Dr. Hunter observes, 'a few feet in height gives a comparative security in the same buildings.' This will be accounted for by the supposition, that as the miasmata exhaled during the day descend in the evenings, they become more and more concentrated, till meeting the exhalations from the still reeking marshes, a dense stratum of highly impregnated atmosphere is found contiguous to the surface of the earth: hence the salubrity of sleeping in upper apartments. This leads to another practicable inference of considerable importance, that when necessity compels exposure to these marshes, we should select that point of time least likely to meet those miasmata, whether ascending or descending. This period seems to extend from three to six in the afternoon:[282] that is, after the greatest heat of the earth and air, and consequently the greatest evaporation, and before the condensation and return of such exhalations as rose during the day, and which combine with those still issuing from the heated soil for some time after sunset.'
"A second, and, I think, an equally powerful cause, is the stagnant water of the canals, which, in all directions, intersect the city. In the first place, they are filled with filth of every description; there is scarcely at times any perceptible current in them to carry off that filth; and lastly, the sluices are frequently kept shut, for the purpose of swelling the waters above them to irrigate the fields, while those below, which intersect the town, become almost dry, leaving an extensive surface of mud, and every kind of putrified matter, to be acted upon by the sun, raising the most pestilential vapours, with which, as before observed, the atmosphere gets thoroughly impregnated.
"As a third cause, the state of the houses may be considered, and the mode of living of the Dutch. Houses that are untenanted are seldom opened, and thus collect much filth and foul, damp, pernicious vapours. Those that are inhabited are generally shut up in the day time, most of them being glazed, thus preventing a free circulation of air; and in the lower story of most of the houses, the walls are covered some feet from the ground with a greenish coat, and on entering the apartments a stranger experiences a kind of chilly feel, and a damp raw kind of smell. Although it cannot be enumerated among the causes, yet I cannot help thinking the Dutch mode of medical practice, in as far as it is inefficient to counteract the diseases of this climate, must tend to increase the number of fatal terminations.
"The Dutch practitioners, little in the habit of theorizing, continue the same practice in every form of disease, and they are particularly prejudiced against the use of mercury, opium, and other powerful medicines, in consequence relying solely on the most simple and inert remedies. Some few of them, of more enlarged understanding, adopt the English mode, and seem sensible of its superior efficacy.
"A fourth, and, I am convinced, a very general cause, especially of the diarrhœas and dysenteries, which seldom fail to attack new comers, is the water. This most essential article is taken either from the canals or wells, and it is equally bad when passed through a filtering stone. It retains a brackish, hard, unpleasant taste, and if allowed to remain some time in vessels without previous boiling, generates small animalculæ. Such, I conceive, are the most probable and principal causes of the insalubrity of Batavia; though there are, I doubt not, others contributing, which elude observation. It is generally received, though I think an erroneous opinion, that the rainy season is the most unhealthy. The most unhealthy appears to me to be that immediately after the cessation of the rains; and the older and more experienced Dutch residents have observed, that in years when there has been a long continued drought, disease has been more than usually prevalent, and they look forward with anxiety for the accession of the rains, as the means of resisting its baneful dissemination.
"Weltevreden, at a distance of not more than three miles, being less exposed to these causes, excepting the water, is exempt, in a great measure, from its prevailing endemic fever; though diarrhœas are common, especially among those newly arriving, but they are seldom of a serious or alarming nature.
"Among the troops stationed at Weltevreden and Cornelis, diseases are not more frequent than in the healthiest parts of India which I have visited; though for some months since the Báli expedition, the casualties in the 78th regiment have been numerous. At Chemangis, about twenty-two miles from Batavia inland, a battalion of Sepoys is stationed, where, from the returns I have received, it appears they enjoy comparatively good health, and have very few casualties, though a much larger quantity of rain falls than in the vicinity of Weltevreden. It is on an elevated commanding situation, and open and clear of jungle for a considerable extent around."
In support of the opinion which has been given of the general salubrity of the climate of Java, the abstract returns of sick, &c. among the troops serving on Java and its dependencies, for the last two years, are annexed, together with a statement of casualties, in His Majesty's 78th regiment, while serving on the continent of India and in Java.
General Abstract
of the
Monthly Return
of
Sick
on the Island of
Java
and its Dependencies, from 1st November, 1813, to 30th October, 1814.
Months. No. of Troops. Remained on the 1st. Admitted. Discharged. Dead. Remaining last month. Total Proportion of Sick. Proportion of Deaths to Cures.
Europeans. Natives. Fever. Dysentery. Other Diseases. Total. Fever. Flux. Hepatitis. Rheumatism. Syphilis and Gonorrhea. Ulcers. Other Diseases. Europeans. Natives.
1813.
Nov. 2,262 5,196 938 997 981 5 19 6 30 176 216 10 61 101 195 144 289 635 1 to 8 1 to 32.70
Dec. 2,399 4,962 963 908 974 3 37 14 54 150 205 9 73 95 149 164 266 577 1 to 9.90 1 to 18
1814.
Jan. 2,089 5,536 955 852 895 1 24 11 36 144 196 11 79 99 170 177 232 644 1 to 8.70 1 to 24.86
Feb. 1,233 4,865 677 474 477 3 14 6 23 99 144 2 63 84 113 146 141 510 1 to 9.33 1 to 27.39
Mar. 2,154 5,845 744 733 834 6 19 6 31 146 152 1 69 183 102 116 124 575 1 to 11.52 1 to 26.911
Apr. 1,818 4,962 620 662 620 5 18 5 28 149 131 5 51 80 80 144 177 457 1 to 10.67 1 to 22.14
May 1,781 6,509 848 876 805 8 35 4 47 169 201 7 87 107 131 160 195 667 1 to 9.61 1 to 17.12
June 1,677 5,790 763 934 820 11 30 13 54 168 182 12 80 103 127 151 216 607 1 to 9 1 to 15.18
July 1,663 5,560 839 1,082 880 7 30 10 47 304 199 15 103 117 104 150 230 764 1 to 7.28 1 to 18.72
Aug. 1,569 5,735 947 945 772 21 17 4 42 440 189 11 89 117 111 121 263 815 1 to 6.77 1 to 18.38
Sept. 2,309 5,863 1,157 915 916 31 38 8 77 395 172 15 107 135 97 159 355 725 1 to 7.55 1 to 11.89
Oct. 2,306 5,562 1,079 876 1,018 9 24 12 45 241 176 9 106 122 91 142 278 609 1 to 8.87 1 to 22.62
General Monthly Average
of
Sick
and
Casualties
on the Island of
Java
and its Dependencies, from 1st November, 1813, to 31st October, 1814.
Average of the Strength of Corps and Detachments. Average of Sick. Average of Cures. Average of Deaths. Average Proportion of Sick to Well. Average Proportion of Deaths to Cures.
7,470 862 832 42 1 to 8.66 1 to 99.80
Monthly Average
of
Fatal Diseases
, from 1st November, 1813, to 31st October, 1814.
Deaths during the Year. Fevers. Flux. Other Diseases. Total.
514 110 305 99 514
Monthly Average 9⅙ 255⁄12 8¼ 4210⁄12
General Abstract
of the
Monthly Returns
of
Sick
on the Island of
Java
and its Dependencies, from 1st November, 1814, to 31st December, 1815, inclusive.
Months. No. of Troops. Remained on the 1st. Admitted. Discharged. Dead. Remaining last month. Total Proportion of Sick. Proportion of Deaths to Cures.
Europeans. Natives. Fever. Dysentery. Other Diseases. Total. Fever. Flux. Hepatitis. Rheumatism. Syphilis and Gonorrhea. Ulcers. Other Diseases. Europeans. Natives.
1814.
Nov. 2,272 6,283 906 820 784 11 21 7 39 211 154 5 104 132 112 185 229 674 1 to 9.47 1 to 20⅒
Dec. 2,325 6,268 890 797 815 13 22 11 46 211 132 10 84 123 116 150 229 597 1 to 104⁄10 1 to 17
1815.
Jan. 2,106 6,233 842 693 776 6 18 8 32 157 119 18 88 105 118 127 188 539 1 to 11.47 1 to 24¼
Feb. 2,211 5,962 714 601 601 6 7 4 17 141 106 8 102 87 117 124 195 502 1 to 11.72 1 to 35.35
Mar. 2,172 5,700 595 642 600 1 10 5 16 184 96 6 79 68 90 98 173 448 1 to 12.67 1 to 37½
Apr. 2,050 5,481 623 706 648 5 10 4 19 182 122 5 81 79 101 92 178 484 1 to 11.37 1 to 34⅒
May 2,082 5,983 658 723 677 4 6 4 14 158 122 8 77 109 111 108 220 470 1 to 11.68 1 to 48.35
June 2,002 5,862 691 682 663 4 12 5 21 204 107 5 81 110 95 103 200 495 1 to 11.31 1 to 31.57
July 1,442 5,227 609 540 551 4 6 3 13 177 109 4 64 72 83 76 149 436 1 to 114⁄10 1 to 42.38
Aug. 1,339 4,836 584 545 554 5 5 4 14 139 102 3 64 74 82 97 152 409 1 to 111⁄140 1 to 39.57
Sept. 1,324 4,595 497 444 467 2 1 5 8 101 91 4 49 60 73 88 123 343 1 to 127⁄10 1 to 58.37
Oct. 1,326 4,770 420 384 387 2 6 5 13 88 58 4 59 64 88 63 77 327 1 to 1511⁄30 1 to 29.76
Nov. 821 4,404 443 407 392 1 6 5 12 101 78 4 53 70 72 68 42 404 1 to 11½ 1 to 32⅔
Dec. 772 3,170 344 388 343 2 5 3 10 83 79 4 36 48 59 70 61 318 1 to 10⅖ 1 to 34⅓
N.B.—The monthly returns from Maccassar for November and December, and of the 5th Volunteer Battalion Javan Corps, and of a Detachment of H.M. 78th for December, had not been received when this table was framed.
General Monthly Average
of
Sick
and
Casualties
on the Island of
Java
and its Dependencies, from 1st November, 1814, to 31st October, 1815, inclusive.
Average of the Strength of Corps and Detachments. Average of Sick. Average of Cures. Average of Deaths. Average Proportion of Sick to Well. Average Proportion of Deaths to Cures.
7,487 699 626 21 1 to 11.17 1 to 29.18
State
of His Majesty's 1st Battalion 78th Regiment, shewing the Effective Strength and Number died (including those died of Wounds) killed in Action, &c. Half-yearly, from 16th February, 1797, five days after the Regiment's landing in India, to 25th December, 1815.
Serondole, 13th March, 1816.
Head Quarters of the Regiment and Dates. Effective Strength on the under-mentioned Dates. Casualties. Total dead, killed, &c. &c. PERIODS.
Serjts. Drs. R & F. Dead, including those that died of wounds, &c. Killed in Action.
Fort William, 16 Feb. 1797[283] 53 25 1,146 — — 115 16 Feb. 1797, to 24 Dec. 1797.
Berhampore, 25 June 52 22 1,085 25 —
On the River, 25 Dec. 52 22 993 90 —
Allahabad, 25 June, 1798 52 22 952 45 — 79 25 Dec. 1797, to 24 Dec. 1798.
Camp Onoopsher, 25 Dec. 52 22 930 34 —
Cawnpore, 25 June, 1792. 52 22 913 27 — 58 25 Dec. 1798, to 24 Dec. 1799.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 52 22 888 31 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1800 52 22 869 19 — 53 25 Dec. 1799, to 24 Dec. 1800.
Fort William, 25 Dec. 52 22 890 34 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1801 52 22 857 30 — 45 25 Dec. 1800, to 24 Dec. 1801.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 52 22 897 15 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1802 52 22 884 12 — 78 25 Dec. 1801, to 24 Dec. 1802.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 52 22 865 66 —
Camp Rooey, 25 June, 1803 52 22 837 30 — 166 25 Dec. 1802, to 24 Dec. 1803.
---- Cuttah, 25 Dec. 62 22 709 89 47
---- Chiohoora, 25 June, 1804 52 22 657 61 — 145 25 Dec. 1803, to 24 Dec. 1804.
Old Women's Island, Bombay, 25 Dec. 53 22 683 84 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1805 54 22 636 50 — 80 25 Dec. 1804, to 24 Dec. 1805.
Camp at Bombay, 25 Dec. 54 22 604 30 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1806 54 22 683 14 — 38 25 Dec. 1805, to 24 Dec. 1806.
Butcher's Island, near Bombay, 25 Dec. 54 22 668 24 —
Cabo Island of Goa, 25 June, 1807 54 22 686 17 — 24 25 Dec. 1806, to 24 Dec. 1807.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 54 22 520 7 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1808 56 22 706 9 — 34 25 Dec. 1807, to 24 Dec. 1808.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 57 22 809 25 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1809 57 22 772 22 — 54 25 Dec. 1808, to 24 Dec. 1809.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 57 22 740 32 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1810 55 22 989 22 — 43 25 Dec. 1809, to 24 Dec. 1810.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 54 22 991 21 —
Lowjee Family Transport, 25 June, 1811 64 22 965 18 — 212 25 Dec. 1810, to 24 Dec. 1811.
Surabaya, Java, 25 Dec. 62 22 770 166 28
Ditto, 25 June, 1812 59 22 674 101 — 200 25 Dec. 1811, to 24 Dec. 1812.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 54 21 684 93 6
Ditto, 25 June, 1813 54 20 625 59 — 81 25 Dec. 1812, to 24 Dec. 1813.
Ung'arang, 25 Dec. 53 21 625 22 —
Weltevreeden, Java, 25 June, 1814 54 21 597 28 — 80 25 Dec. 1813, to 24 Dec. 1814.
Ditto, 25 Dec. 52 20 623 52 —
Ditto, 25 June, 1815 45 20 583 20 — 33 25 Dec. 1814, to 24 Dec. 1815.
Serondol, 25 Dec. 45 21 568 13 —
1,537 81 1,618
Of Six Companies at Serondol, died from 25th December, 1815, to 13th March, 1816 1 Of One ditto Solo ditto 25th ditto 13th ditto 2 Of Three ditto Weltevreeden, ditto 25th ditto 13th ditto 6 Total 9 Of the above six died at Weltevreeden, one died in consequence of a fall.
Note by N. Currie, Esq. Surgeon of His Majesty's 78th Regiment, on the foregoing Table.
When the 78th regiment first arrived at Java, the men had been long confined on board ship, living on salt provisions, and were afterwards exposed, not only to the fatigues and privations incident to actual warfare, but also to the inclemency of the weather in a tropical climate. All these causes produced a tendency to disease, and when the regiment arrived at Surabáya the quarters were bad; and being in the middle of the town, free access could at all times be had to spirituous liquors. The number of diseases and of casualties was consequently great; but it diminished gradually, as the men were successively accommodated with good barracks at De Noyo. The whole were comfortably lodged in plastered barracks in March or April, 1813, and in May and the following month a very sensible reduction of deaths took place, as may be seen by the abstracts of those months. During the preceding months of January, February, March, and April, the deaths were numerous, but the greater proportion was among the men of a detachment of about two hundred men that joined in January, and continued to be very sickly during those four months. Almost all the men of this detachment had, when attacked, violent diseases.
A very remarkable instance of the bad effects of exposure to night air while asleep, occurred when part of the regiment was sent, in September, 1814, from Weltevreeden to Chemangis, where the barracks were built of wattled bamboos, and the men lying with their heads to the walls, received the current of air directly in their heads. Fifty were seized with a highly inflammatory fever in the course of three days. Delirium was always the first symptom in every case, and it was necessary to bleed several of them largely before they could be sent to the hospital. By referring to the returns it will be seen that almost every increase of sickness happened after a change of quarters, as in the detachment above-mentioned, and after the removal of the regiment from Surabáya to Ung'arang and Sirondol in October, 1813, after the expedition to Bali at Weltevreeden in June, 1814, and to Chemangis in September 1814. An increase of sickness always took place after the use of spirituous liquors on particular holidays, as Christmas, &c.; and on the contrary, the good effects of not exposing the men to morning dews or wet, and of regularity in diet, may be seen in the healthiness of the regiment after the men got settled in good barracks at Surabáya and Weltevreeden.
Java need no longer be held up as the grave of Europeans, for except in the immediate neighbourhood of salt marshes and forests, as in the city of Batavia, and two or three other places on the north coast, it may be safely affirmed that no tropical climate is superior to it in salubrity. By its insular situation, the temperature of the atmosphere is low and equable, and from its lofty mountains it possesses this great advantage, that in a few hours' travelling a climate of any degree of cold may be found.