18 MEMOIR OF THE LIFE 
bring all the Europeans with her. It is now the intention of — 
the conductor of the Expedition to sail to Ascension, which 
is considered peculiarly healthy, there to await the perfect 
recovery of the sick, and in March, when a better climate 3 
for a European constitution is expected, again to ascend E 
the Niger. lI heard that I might be allowed to spend the — 
interval at this place. "They brought me on shore in a very - 
high fever, and I have been now almost three weeks here. — 
The fever, which on my way was almost always upon me, has ` 
left me for the last week and a half; and I am now, as I | 
believe, out of all danger. But my strength returns very 
slowly, and I shall scarcely be able for these six weeks to 
resume my botanical investigations. At present I cannot 
walk, but stumble over my own feet. One of the ships, the 
Wilberforce, is gone to Ascension : the Albert, which arrived 3 
later, is here, and will wait for the recovery of her sick." 2 
* Of the Island of Fernando Po itself I can say little: I : 
have not yet been in a condition to look round me. Yet i. 
seems rich in plants, and I hope especially that the examina ; 
tion of the mountains may prove productive ; for they are 
mainly covered with thick woods; and the highest point is — 
above 10,000 feet high. The accommodations are but limited - 
and poor. All the houses are merely made of boards, 
knocked together, and are raised on strong posts, which are 
obliged to be frequently renewed to keep off the vermin, and | 
to facilitate the current of air. They are constructed, princi- - 
pally, with a view to airiness: the windows, that is the 
shutters, do not close: the roof is seldom water-tight, and in - 
the walls and floor are great holes, so that during a heavy rain, 
such as prevailed yesterday, our chamber is almost flooded; 
and it is merely the holes in the floor which, allowing the 
water to escape, give some relief. The German Mineralo- | 
gist belonging to the Expedition, who is somewhat more 
advanced than myself towards recovery, will remain here; - 
and we have clubbed together for our housekeeping; bu 
even this is expensive. Anything in the shape of a kitchen is 
out of the question. To the open space under the house, which _ 
