84 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



haggling and fault-finding, they became our property at 

 the exorbitant sum of thirteen pounds ten shillings each. 



All past troubles are nothing to what I have to suffer 

 to-day. My now dear friend and companion, Morris, 

 tells me that he feels far from well. Very feverish 

 he certainly is with a very furred tongue. Returning, 

 when proposed, he will not hear of; so I insist that he 

 shall keep out of the sun, and avoid the night air ; ride 

 in the wagon as much as possible; put his feet 

 in mustard and water before retiring to rest; finally, 

 before sleeping, have a couple of fever-pills, specially 

 prepared by a skilled physician for this climate. There 

 was a slight tendency to kick against my authority, 

 but that was natural enough; however, like a good 

 subaltern, he submitted. I have little doubt that it is 

 one of those fever attacks prevalent in all hot climates, 

 precipitated by the vexations and annoyances he had 

 suffered, combined with the exposure occasioned by his 

 night in the saddle on the low-lying grounds that 

 bordered the Mooi Eiver. The swarms of mosquitoes 

 that pestered us there, and him in particular, would 

 inflame any one's blood, and, where there was a pre- 

 disposition, assist much in producing strong febrile 

 tendencies. 



My consolation is that now our men have got into 

 very tolerable working order; consequently, there is 

 little enough for me to do, so I shall turn cook and 

 nurse by turns, and see that he has an abundance of 

 good soup, with rice or barley as the .vegetable adjunct 

 to it. Still, with resolves to do all that can be done for 

 my comrade's comfort, I feel a shudder of awe, in case 

 anything should happen. Shall I go on, or turn back ? 

 Before deciding, I shall wait for the morrow. 



