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if any were caught smoking opium at night, but the passengers had their spies, and the sailors' approach was a sign for the lights to be put out, and the pipes to be hidden. He also prohibited gambling for money, but the passengers used bits of wood representing money. He did not call in at any port, as there was no port to call in at. He came by the Ombay Passage, and made the passage as quickly as he could (the course of the Italia was more pointed out by the captain). All vessels from the 15th of October to the middle of May came up by the Ombay passage.
One of the Chinese Charterers of the vessel, named Augustine Lapeadra, was called, and having been sworn, said he was a native of Swatow and had been in Havana for 14 years.
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He and his partner chartered the vessel at the rate of $7,000 per 100 Chinese. He brought the provisions himself. He put on board four cooks and a doctor, together with a quantity of medicine. He brought three children with him, and they all lived. His opinion of the cause of the great mortality on board was on account of the number of years the men had lived in Havana and the sudden change of temperature. His own partner died on the voyage. He knew many of the passengers before leaving, but not all. The whole of the passengers smoked opium, just as they pleased as far as regarded quantity. The food was good, and was served to all alike, there being no first or second class. Generally, after a meal, there was abundance left over. The meal times were the same as in Havana, and the food which they got was exactly the same as in Havana. The vessel was clean and well ventilated.
By Dr. Adams-The Chinese in Havana live much the same as they do in China, and the provisions were as in Cuba.
Examination continued-The captain and officers were always kind and attentive to the passengers. There never was any scarcity of opium on board. He himself had a good stock of opium, and could supply the men. He did not know if any died from the effects of too much smoking, but some smoked a good deal.
By Dr. Adams-The captain served out the essence of lemon, but he had himself a good stock of lemons when he started from Havana. He had five pigs on board, and the captain had sheep, and when any was killed, half was given to the Chinese.
Another passenger, named Roccé, a native of Amoy, said when the vessel left Havana there were a good many elderly men, and some were sick. The reason of the mortality was, he thought, the damp and cold; the ship was damp when it rained, by reason of the water coming down into the 'tween decks. The provisions were good and plentiful, and he had no complaint to make about the captain or crew. No men died from smoking too much, or even from not having enough of the drug.
Toribio, another of the Chinese passengers, a native of Amoy, said he was not acquainted with any of the passengers before he came on board. He had been a cook on board a steamer and a cook on board the Italia. The provisions on board the vessel were good, as far as he knew, and they were plentiful. When he arrived in this port, his limbs were beginning to swell. He thought over the matter, but he could not find out why the men got sick. They ate their provisions well, until all of a sudden a man's limbs would begin to swell, and the man would die. The medicines did not seem to do any good. The doctors all said it was a disease. The vessel did not leak at all, only when it rained, a little water would go down the main hatchway, because that was always open.
At this stage, the inquiry was adjourned until three o'clock this afternoon, when one of the Chinese doctors of the ship will be examined.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JANUARY 29TH, 1869.
THE MORTALITY ON BOARD THE **ITALIA**.
The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances attending the mortality on board the Italian ship Italia was continued yesterday, before the Hon. William Keswick, Italian Consul.
Benancio Araugarin, the chief officer of the Italia, was called, and in answer to the consul, said he joined the ship on the 27th June, 1868. He was aware that there had been great mortality among the passengers on board the vessel. He attributed the deaths to the fact that all the coolies had been used to hard labour when in Havana, but that when they came on board, they abandoned themselves to excess, drinking and smoking opium, and this must have affected them. The provisions on board were good and sufficient, and the captain and himself always attended to the passengers. There were no disturbances on board.
Julian D'Zulietta, third officer of the vessel, said this was his second voyage in the Italia. The ship was in good order. He was of opinion that the continual smoking of opium was the cause of all the deaths. The men smoked opium, and then came up on deck to get wet, and afterwards go below and keep their wet things on. The men would come up and get wet while the decks were being washed, &c. Many of the men came on board in Havana very sick and weak. He did not think that the passengers had any cause of complaint, as they were well treated. He saw European medicines frequently given to the Chinese.
The captain here handed in his medicine book, entitled "Bossu, Compendio Medico," and pointed out to Dr. Adams the disease he believed the passengers suffered from, named "Añasaca."
Jose Camacho, a native of Amoy, and Chinese Doctor by profession, said he learnt the medical profession in Amoy and Swatow. He went to Havana in 1866, but as he could not practise there, because it was not allowed, he practised only when called on by his countrymen. He went there as a Doctor, but he really acted as a trader. He only paid half passage, working the other half as doctor. He could not legally practise as it is not allowed by law in Havana. He did not think himself a great doctor, he was more of an Apothecary, although he had practised as a doctor. The passengers were all in good health when they left Havana. With regard to the mortality on board, he was of opinion that the passengers had not sufficient clothing. They were before in a hot climate, and coming out here, they passed through cold weather, got wet frequently, and had no change of clothing. He had never before seen the disease, and it was in his opinion an incurable disease, much like cholera. There was no medicine that could cure the men, once they began to swell up. In a ship he went with—a ship carrying 220 coolies—twelve or thirteen died, but not from anything like the disease on board the Italia.
The captain here said that he brought 500 coolies on one voyage, and only twelve died.
Examination continued-He saw European medicines given to the Chinese, but many would not take it, as they had no faith in them. The provisions were good and plentiful, and the passengers had nothing to complain of, living just the same as in Havana.
Dr. Adams wished to know if the coolies, working the same in Havana as in China, received the same food as in this country?
The Chinese doctor naively replied, that