istinction, the poor delirious wretches
manifested a respect for his rank and character: they forthwith gave
way, and he forced his passage into the centre of the place, which was
not crowded so much, because by this time about one-third of the number
had perished, and lay on small compass on the floor, while the rest
still crowded to both windows. He retired to a platform at the
farther end of the room, and lying down upon some of his dead friends,
recommended his soul to heaven. Here his thirst grew insupportable;
his difficulty in breathing increased, and he was seized with a strong
palpitation. These violent symptoms, which he could not bear, urged him
to make another effort: he forced his way back to the window, and cried
aloud, "Water! for God's sake!" He had been supposed already dead by his
wretched companions, but finding him still alive, they exhibited another
extraordinary proof of tenderness and regard to his person: "Give him
water," they cried; nor would any of them attempt to touch it until he
had drank. He now breathed more freely, and the palpitation ceased; but
finding himself still more thirsty after drinking, he abstained
from water, and moistened his mouth from time to time by sucking the
perspiration from his shirt sleeves.*

* In his despair of obtaining water, this unhappy gentleman
had attempted to drink his own urine, but found it
intolerably bitter; whereas the moisture that flowed from
the pores of his body, was soft, pleasant, and refreshing.

The miserable prisoners, perceiving that water rather aggravated than
relieved their distress, grew clamorous for air, and repeated their
insults to the guard, loading the suba and his governor with the most
virulent reproach. From railing they had recourse to prayer, beseeching
heaven to put an end to their misery. They now began to drop on all
hands; but then a steam arose from the living and the dead, as pungent
and volatile as spirit of hartshorn; so that all who could not approach
the windows were suffocated. Mr. Holwell, being weary of life, retired
once more to the platform, and stretched himself by the Rev. Mr. Jer-vis
Bellamy, who, together with his son, a lieutenant, lay dead in each
other's embrace. In this situation he was soon deprived of sense, and
lay to all appearance dead till day broke, when his body was discovered
and removed by his surviving friends to one of the windows, where the
fresh air revived him, and he