XX ATTACKS OF FEVER 441 



Some people have expressed surprise at poor French 

 dying so quickly, but it must be remembered that 

 at this time of year, just before the rains fall, the 

 heat is something terrific in this part of the country. 

 In 1879, three Kafirs hunting with Mr. Sell near 

 the junction of the Chobe and Zambesi, died of 

 thirst within twenty-four hours of the time they left 

 the last water. Let me now, however, dismiss this 

 sad theme. I have given as straightforward an 

 account of it as I could, and I do not care to discuss 

 it any further. 



During the next few days, as I have said before, 

 I was very ill with repeated attacks of fever — so ill 

 that Miller made a stretcher on which to have me 

 carried, as he did not think I would be able to walk. 

 However, as my mind recovered from the shock it 

 had received, my body gained strength too, and, as 

 neither of us cared to hunt any longer in this part 

 of the country, we recrossed the river and started 

 for the waggons, which we reached on October 11. 



Here we found CoUison and Sell, the latter lying 

 dangerously ill with fever. He had, however, beaten 

 us all with the elephants, having killed three bulls 

 and a cow, one of the former with very fine tusks, 

 weighing nearly 70 lbs. apiece. A few days later, 

 when Sell commenced to mend a little. Miller was 

 struck down in turn with a sharp attack, from which, 

 however, he began to recover in a few days. 



During the remainder of October I stayed at the 

 waggons with Collison, in the hope that the rains 

 would speedily fall and allow us to make our escape 

 out of this wretched, waterless country ; for as there 

 were absolutely no elephants to be found, there was 

 not the slightest inducement for us to remain any 

 longer where we were. However, as long as the 



