Indians and Negroes lie on the Floors, most generally on Mats made of Bull-rushes, ordinary Rushes, Ribs of Plantain Leaves, or the Spathæ, or Vaginæ of Cabbage-tree-Flowers, with very little or no coverings, and a small Fire near them in their Cottages. Hence they and ordinary white Servants, who lie not in Beds, are not said to go to Bed, but to go and Sleep: and this Phrase has generally obtain'd all over the Plantations.
Beds are sometimes covered all over with Gauze to hinder the Mosquitos or Gnats from buzzing about, biting or awaking those lying in them. This is chiefly after Rain.
It is esteem'd here the wholesomest way to go to Bed early, and rise early.
The heat of the Air exhausting the Spirits, no wonder if some of the edge of Mankind to Venery be taken off; it is thought by some Men, that they are bewitch'd or charm'd by the Air; by others that that desire in Women by this heat is Augmented, but I believe neither; for what I could find by several People this Appetite is the same as in other places, neither are men more bewitch'd or charm'd here than in Europe; but I believe People being here more debauch'd than in England, the Consequences may be more taken notice of; and I am apt to think that a great many Dropsies may come from this, nothing depauperating the Blood like excessive Venery. I once saw a very great Dropsie fall on a strong young man, occasioned by one nights very excessive debauchery.
Exercises here are not many, because of the heat of the Air; riding in the mornings is the most ordinary, which by its easie moving the Abdomen, and so consequently its Contents, and by that means forwarding the depuration of the Blood in the several Emunctories there plac'd, has a very great power in keeping a Man in sound Health, as well as recovering a Man when sickly and ill.
The Passions of the Mind have a very great power on Mankind here, especially Hysterical Women, and Hypochondriacal Men. These cannot but have a great share in the cause of several Diseases, some of the People living here being in such Circumstances, as not to be able, to live easily elsewhere: add to this, that there are not wanting some, as every where else, who have been of bad Lives, whereby their minds are disturb'd, and their Diseases, if not render'd Mortal, yet much worse to cure than those who have sedate Minds and clear Consciences. On the same account it is that those who have not their Wills, Minds, and Affairs settled, in Distempers are much worse to be cur'd than other Men. On all which respects theIndians
