226 MALADIES CRUELTY. 



f[uantity is poured on the ground, and a blessing asked on the 

 remainder. 



Fever and ophthalmia (eye-sickness) are the prevailing 

 maladies. The symptoms in fever are headache, pains in 

 the neck and bowels, general weakness, and ague. It makes 

 its appearance about April and May, or when the periodical 

 rains have ceased. Ophthalmia, on the other hand, begins to 

 show itself in September and October, but reaches its maxi- 

 mum when the cold season sets in. The first sensation ex- 

 perienced is as if the pupil of the eye was too large. A gath- 

 ering of water in the sides and under the eyelids then ensues. 

 In a short time this fluid becomes scaldingly hot, and, if not 

 quickly and carefully removed, the pain will be intense. The 

 sight is sometimes completely destroyed by this malady. In- 

 deed, one not unfrequently meets with people either totally 

 blind or minus one eye. Europeans are as liable to these 

 inflictions as the natives. I speak from experience, having 

 myself been a severe sufferer from fever and ophthalmia. 



Comparatively few old people are to be met with in Da- 

 mara-land, for which several reasons may be assigned, such 

 as their cruel civil broils, and their want of compassion for 

 aged and disabled individuals. At times, indeed, they would 

 seem to do all they can to hasten the death of such sufferers. 

 Some instances of this atrocity have come to my knowledge : 

 one of the most shocking occurred at Barmen. 



Finding that a certain poor woman, being nearly blind, 

 was unable to provide for herself, Mr. Hahn took compassion 

 on the helpless creature, and gave her a small quantity of 

 provision almost daily. The brother, finding he could not 

 obtain the same boon, grew jealous of the preference shown 

 to his sister, and secretly resolved to kill her. This he effect- 

 ed by taking her to a spot destitute of water, under the pre- 

 text that they were to dig roots, where she was left to her 

 fate. A boy who accompanied them asserted that, on the 

 unnatural brother returning to the place some days after- 



