68 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



over the body, the Arabs, as Forskal reports, call it 

 hurras. The same author adds, that the spots of 

 this kind of leprosy are never visible on the hands 

 nor around the navel ; but my observation has 

 convinced me to the contrary ; for the man of 

 Stout had these very parts overspread with white 

 spots. This disease is neither infectious nor fatal. 

 Niebuhr says that a negro who had been attacked 

 with it at Mocha was relieved, but not cured of 

 itj by the use of sulphur. 



Whilbt I thus employed myself, pretty much 

 against my will, about the health of others, 1 was 

 attacked in my turn with a violent disorder in my 

 eyes, of that kind which the Greeks have named 

 chemos'is. The ball of one of my eyes started from 

 its orbit ; the membranes, swelled and extremely 

 inflamed, covered it totally ; it was so frightful to 

 behold, that no one of my attendants durst look 

 upon me. A burning fever consumed me. I en- 

 dured insupportable agonies. Sleep never closed 

 my swollen eyelids; it was impossible for me to lie 

 down ; for, in that position, the eye pressing ujpon 

 the abscess which had formed itself at the bottom 

 of its orbit augmented my sufferings. 



It is upon these occasions that the traveller, at a 

 distance from every species of assistance, must col- 

 lect together all the knowledge he may possess, and 



the 



