Moreover, He Compelled Me To Drink Herb Tea, Compounded
By A Malay Doctor For My Cough.
I declined at first, and the poor
old man looked hurt, gravely assured me that it was not true
That
Malays always poisoned Christians, and drank some himself.
Thereupon I was obliged, of course, to drink up the rest; it
certainly did me good, and I have drunk it since with good effect;
it is intensely bitter and rather sticky. The white servants and
the Dutch landlady where I lodge shake their heads ominously, and
hope it mayn't poison me a year hence. 'Them nasty Malays can make
it work months after you take it.' They also possess the evil eye,
and a talent for love potions. As the men are very handsome and
neat, I incline to believe that part of it.
Rathfelder's Halfway House, 6th November. - I drove out here
yesterday in Captain T-'s drag, which he kindly brought into
Capetown for me. He and his wife and children came for a change of
air for whooping cough, and advised me to come too, as my cough
continues, though less troublesome. It is a lovely spot, six miles
from Constantia, ten from Capetown, and twelve from Simon's Bay. I
intend to stay here a little while, and then to go to Kalk Bay, six
miles from hence. This inn was excellent, I hear, 'in the old
Dutch times'. Now it is kept by a young Englishman, Cape-born, and
his wife, and is dirty and disorderly.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 30 of 141
Words from 7925 to 8180
of 37925
