188 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



it was thought wiser to rest — at least that morning. 

 The advantages of the scheme presented themselves 

 before us, for kob were seen drinking within a few 

 yards of our camp, and the opportunity for a hunt 

 was magnificent. I pointed them out to Mr Talbot ; 

 but he made no response, nor even turned his head 

 to look. A few minutes later he asked leave to lie 

 down in my tent, that he might not disturb his 

 wife. With sinking heart I asked what was the 

 matter, and he replied the symptoms were those of 

 dysentery. 



From that moment a terrible time of grave illness 

 ensued, and, curiously enough, the symptoms were 

 identical with those from which his wife had suffered ; 

 but they were not altogether those of dysentery. Hunt 

 as we might in our two medical books, no disease 

 fitted them. His heart was weak, and he suffered 

 internal pain right up his body. Could it be due 

 to poison ? The idea made us more anxious still, 

 for we could not tell how the case should be treated. 

 Ought he to have stimulant ? or might it give rise 

 to inflammation ? Ought he to have much or little 

 nourishment ? We knew nothing. In despair, we sent 

 back to Maiashe for cows in milk, and they were 

 driven out to us in the desert. There was no tree 

 of size to give us shade, and Mr Talbot lay in a tent 

 covered over with three canvas coverings, with spaces 

 for air between each ; but nothing could keep out the 

 merciless sun, and by day the atmosphere was like a 

 furnace. At night we had cool breezes, but no quiet ; 

 for the boys had to gather in close around us, within 

 a sheltering circle of huge fires, and they did not dare 

 all sleep, lest the flames might die down and lion or 



