HOW WE CURED THE CHIEF 



we were doubtful that our medicines would be of any 

 effect, for the constitution of the native is different from 

 that of the white man. Furthermore, we were not sure 

 that he was suffering from fever alone. If our remedies 

 failed we should stand a poor chance of leaving the 

 village alive, and we foresaw an anxious period during 

 the next few days. 



" Livingstone rousers," phenacetin and quinine, all 

 in heavy doses, effected a reduction in the temperature 

 next day. At night time the entire conical roof of a 

 hut which had been carried down from the village rested 

 on poles above him. We covered him with red blankets 

 and left two of our boys with him night and day to 

 watch against any interference from the doctor who was 

 busy trying to turn the opinion of the people against 

 us, and nearly succeeded once, but a word from the chief 

 turned the tables on him. 



Our patient was sitting up the next day and was 

 able to take some food. At first we had been afraid 

 that there might be some other complication besides the 

 fever that had got hold of him, but on the fifth day he 

 was up and able to walk a little, though he was terribly 

 weak. However, we had conquered, and the people 

 looked up to us and regarded our little box of medicines 

 with awe. Mouths opened wide, heads nodded, the 

 people were restless with excitement at the appearance 

 of their chief among them once again. 



In my reflections on the Congo I often fall a-thinking 

 as to what our fate would have been had the chief died. 

 Certain it is that the people would have rushed to the 

 witch doctor and listened to his excited talk. No ! 

 I do not think we could have left the village alive ! 



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