Part 2

I should think it a Duty Incumbent on me, and would wait on the Venerable Members of the aforesaid Society, present when my Manuscript was read, personally to return them my Thanks for the Honours conferr’d on me. But as the Names and Places of Abode of most are unknown to me, I humbly beg they will accept this Acknowledgement of them, by their

Obliged and Obedient Servant,

JOHN SOUTHALL.

A TREATISE OF BUGGS.

As Buggs have been known to be in England above sixty Years, and every Season increasing so upon us, as to become terrible to almost every Inhabitant in and about this Metropolis, it were greatly to be wished that some more learned Person than my self, studious for the Good of Human Kind, and the Improvement of natural Knowledge, would have oblig’d the Town with some Treatise, Discourse or Lecture on that nauseous venomous Insect.

But as none such have attempted it, and I have ever since my return from America made their destruction my Profession, and was at first much baffled in my Attempts for want, (as I then believ’d, and have since found) of truly knowing the Nature of those intolerable Vermin: I determined by all means possible to try if I could discover and find out as much of their Nature, Feeding and Breeding, as might be conducive to my being better able to destroy them.

And tho’ in attempting it I must own I had a View at private Gain, as well as the publick Good; yet I hope my Design will appear laudable, and the Event answer both Ends.

The late Learned and truly Valuable Dr. Woodward, to whom I first communicated my Intent, not only approv’d the Design, but also the Methods which, I told him, I design’d to pursue, to attain the desired Effects: and at the same time was so good to give me some useful Hints and Instructions, the better to accomplish an Affair, which he said ’twas his Opinion would be a general Good.

Not to make this Acknowledgement of his kind Assistance, would be Ingratitude to my dear deceas’d Friend.

As I had his Approbation at the beginning, had he but liv’d till now, I doubt not but the Discoveries I have made would have appear’d so considerable and useful, as might have entitled me to his farther Friendship and Assistance, in methodizing this Treatise for Publication.

But depriv’d of him, my first and greatest Encourager, I have ventur’d to let it appear in the best Dress my Capacity will admit. Should the Stile and my Manner of handling the Subject to be treated of, appear uncouth and displease, I hope the Usefulness of it to the Publick will make some amends for that Defect.

In treating on these Insects, some part of the Discourse may perhaps at first View appear surprizing, if not incredible to the Readers: But by giving them an account how I attain’d my Knowledge, and by often reiterated Experiments prov’d them to be certain Facts, they will soon alter their Opinion; and the whole, I hope, will not only be acceptable, diverting and instructive to the Readers, but also of universal Benefit to the Inhabitants in and about London and Westminster.

This Treatise being on a Subject as much wanted as any whatever, and the Pains and Trouble I have taken to arrive at my Knowledge herein, having been uncommon; it may be expected by the Curious, that I should give some of the Reasons that first induced me to undertake a Discovery so very difficult to appearance.

It may not therefore be unnecessary to acquaint such, that in the Year 1726, my Affairs requiring my going to the West-Indies, I had not been long there arrived, before, (the Climate not agreeing with my Constitution) I fell sick, had a Complication of the Country Distempers, lost the Use of my Limbs, and was given over by the best Physicians at Kingstown in Jamaica.

But, contrary to their Expectation, recovering a little, they advis’d me to stay no longer in a Country, so prejudicial and dangerous to me, than till I could get Shipping for England; and in the mean time desired that as often as I was able, I would ride out for the Benefit of the Air; which as soon as I had Strength enough, I did.

In one of my Journeys meeting with an uncommon Negro, the Hair or (rather) Wooll on his Head, Beard, and Breast being as white as Snow, I stopt my Horse to look on him; and he coming, as their way is, to beg a little Tobacco, I gave it, and enquir’d if he had been always so white-hair’d. He answer’d, no; but Age had made him so.

Observing that he moved briskly, had no Wrinkles, and all his Teeth, I told him I could not believe him to be very old, at the same time desiring to know his Age. His Answer was, he knew not himself; but this he knew, that he was one of the first Slaves brought into that Island, after the English had taken it in Oliver Cromwell’s time, and was then a great Boy.

By this account I judged, and might reasonably suppose him upwards of ninety Years of Age.

Whilst we were in discourse, he perceiving me often rub and scratch, where my Face and Eyes were much swelled with Bugg-Bites, asked if Chintses, (so Buggs are by Negroes and some others there called) had bit me? On my answering, yes; he said, he wonder’d white Men should let them bite; they should do something to kill them, as he did.

This unexpected Expression excited in me a Curiosity to have farther Discourse with him; and on my telling him, that for my part I should be extreme glad to know how to destroy those Disturbers of my Rest, and that if he would tell me how, I would give him some more Tobacco and a Bit, (a Piece of Spanish Money, there current at Seven-pence Half-Penny:) On this he agreed to give me a Calibash full of Liquor, which he said would certainly do it, following the Directions he gave me.

Possess’d of this, well pleas’d I went home, and tho’ much fatigued, I could not forbear using some of it before I went to sleep; and to my surprize, the instant I applied it, vast Numbers did, (as he had told me they would) come out of their Holes, and die before my face.

These I swept up, threw away, and went to Bed, and had much better Rest than usual, not being Bugg-bit then, as I always was before.

But what added to my Satisfaction, and further surpriz’d me, was, that when I got up I found many more had come out in the Night and were dead.

On this, I conceiv’d so great an Opinion of the Goodness and Usefulness of this Liquor, that I was resolved to endeavour, and if possible to prevail on him to teach me how to make it; well knowing so valuable a Secret was much wanted, and would be highly useful, if I lived to return to England.

In order to obtain it, I got some English Beef, Pork, Biscuit and Beer, and some Tobacco, believing those sooner than Money or any other thing would procure from the Negro, what I so much wanted and desired.

The next day early I went, and finding my Negro in his Hutt, I asked if he could dress me some Victuals. On his replying, yes, if he had it; I open’d my Store-Bags, took out one Piece of Beef, some Biscuits and a Bottle of Beer, taking care at the same time he should see the rest. We eat a Biscuit, drank some Beer, and to dressing the Beef with some Yams out of his Plantation, he eagerly went: all Negroes being greedy of Flesh, when they can come at it; some of them not eating any for many Years together, but live altogether on the Produce of the Earth.

Whilst he was intent on Cooking and in a good Humour, I took the Opportunity of telling him, I had used and so well approved of his Liquor, that if he would learn me how to make it, all the Victuals and Tobacco in the Bags, and what Liquor we did not drink whilst I staid, I would give to him, as a Recompence for the Favour.

At first he refused, believing me (as I found by his discourse) to be a Creolian, whom the Negroes in general hate; but upon my convincing him I was an Englishman, and returning home, the good Chear prevail’d.