[ADS- L] Ev id ence for DECIMATE ( 'one in ten')

[Douglas G. Wilson]

Let's try the competition.

http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=&scope=books&FORM=BCBB#q=%22twice%20decimated%22&filter=all&page=1&t=YGVKXBCnxfQjjb_KusKlHA&sq=%22twice%20decimated%22

1870-1875: <<The mortality ... was ... _twenty-three and two-thirds_
per cent. .... Their ranks twice decimated in that brief period ....>>

The reference is to slaves on shipboard. Here "twice decimated"
refers to 23+% mortality. Hard to say whether "twice decimated"
requires 20% reduction or only 19%. Anyway the passage does not
appear to refer to two decimation events, but simply to the total mortality.

-- Doug Wilson


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