44 THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST, 



was a rogue. I caused twelve of them to be applied around 

 the blistered part, and requested the woman to return in the 

 evening, when I ordered her again to apply the same num- 

 ber of leeches to the place where, a few years before, I had 

 been afflicted with piles. The next morning I applied six 

 leeches to my side, and in the evening, the same number 

 behind, by which means I completed my cure without hav- 

 ing had recourse to any other remedy. Keeping the blister- 

 ed part in a state of suppuration, and treating the external 

 inflammation with cold water, I made such an improvement 

 in my health, that my restored appetite soon enabled me to 

 digest solid food. At the expiration of five days I felt suffi- 

 ciently strong to resume my journey to Lahore, to the as- 

 tonishment of those who witnessed my departure, wondering 

 whether I was really recovered, or in a state of delirium, 

 as only three days had elapsed since I made my will, and their 

 hakim had asserted that there was no chance of my recovery. 

 At the commencement I made but very short journeys. I 

 shortly afterwards had several abscesses where the leeches 

 had been applied, one of them as large as a hen's egg, so that 

 it was difficultifor me to maintain a sitting posture, and, not- 

 withstanding my good appetite, and the salubrious air I 

 afterwards breathed in the mountains, the weakness, produc- 

 ed by only five days' illness, continued for a space of six 

 months. What contributed greatly to my illness, may per- 

 haps have been the circumstance that I had not been sea- 

 sick, on our voyage to Bassora via Moscat to Bender-Karat- 

 shi, as was the case with my servant Antun, who inhaled the 

 same atmosphere, ate and drank the same kind of food and 

 stinking water," &c., without suffering any inconvenience. At 

 that period, the Sindians were not yet acquainted with the 

 English, although they were their neighbours, and accord- 

 ingly we passed villages, where the people were not inclined 

 to furnish us with provisions, even for payment. Our camel- 

 driver advised us to lodge in the mosques, in order to be 

 taken for Mahomedans. By so doing, we were provided 

 with food gratis, by the hospitable musselmans. I and 

 my servant were dressed in the costume of the iohabitants of 



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