Unfortunately, it had the character of extreme unhealthiness.

Of my three predecessors two had died of fever and one as before mentioned.

The coolie death-rate was shocking; so bad that, during my management, a Government Commission was sent to look into the situation, and the absolute closing of the garden was anticipated.

The result was that I was debarred from recruiting and importing certain coolies from certain districts in India, they being peculiarly susceptible to fever and dysentery.

Almost every day at morning muster the doctor reported so and so, or so many, dead, wiped off the roll.