I
Usually Passed The Night Without Shutting My Eyes, Walking Backwards
And Forwards, Fanning Myself With My Hat; Their Stings Raised
Numerous Blisters On My Legs And Arms, Which, Together With The Want
Of Rest, Made Me Very Feverish And Uneasy.
July 29.
- Early in the morning, my landlord, observing that I was
sickly, hurried me away, sending a servant with me as a guide to
Kea. But though I was little able to walk, my horse was still less
able to carry me; and about six miles to the east of Modiboo, in
crossing some rough clayey ground, he fell, and the united strength
of the guide and myself could not place him again upon his legs. I
sat down for some time beside this worn-out associate of my
adventures, but finding him still unable to rise, I took off the
saddle and bridle, and placed a quantity of grass before him. I
surveyed the poor animal, as he lay panting on the ground, with
sympathetic emotion, for I could not suppress the sad apprehension
that I should myself, in a short time, lie down and perish in the
same manner, of fatigue and hunger. With this foreboding I left my
poor horse, and with great reluctance followed my guide on foot
along the bank of the river until about noon, when we reached Kea,
which I found to be nothing more than a small fishing village. The
dooty, a surly old man, who was sitting by the gate, received me
very coolly; and when I informed him of my situation, and begged his
protection, told me with great indifference that he paid very little
attention to fine speeches, and that I should not enter his house.
My guide remonstrated in my favour, but to no purpose, for the dooty
remained inflexible in his determination. I knew not where to rest
my wearied limbs, but was happily relieved by a fishing canoe
belonging to Silla, which was at that moment coming down the river.
The dooty waved to the fisherman to come near, and desired him to
take charge of me as far as Moorzan. The fisherman, after some
hesitation, consented to carry me, and I embarked in the canoe in
company with the fisherman, his wife, and a boy. The negro who had
conducted me from Modiboo now left me. I requested him to look to
my horse on his return, and take care of him if he was still alive,
which he promised to do.
Departing from Kea, we proceeded about a mile down the river, when
the fisherman paddled the canoe to the bank and desired me to jump
out. Having tied the canoe to a stake, he stripped off his clothes,
and dived for such a length of time that I thought he had actually
drowned himself, and was surprised to see his wife behave with so
much indifference upon the occasion; but my fears were over when he
raised up his head astern of the canoe and called for a rope.
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