OUR SICK-LIST INCREASES. 285 



temperature charts have not been neglected. The heat 

 has continued very oppressive, and the thermometer 

 registers to-day 102 in the shade and 155 in the sun, 

 and there has not been a breath of air. Albert, however, 

 persists in ignoring the sun, and, though strongly and 

 repeatedly warned of his folly, will wear nothing on his 

 shaven head beyond a white skull-cap. 



April 14. To-day we have without doubt com- 

 menced the homeward journey, which we intend to con- 

 tinue by easy stages, and this evening finds us en- 

 camped on a very small island, now dry on one side, a 

 few miles below Emhagga, named ' Amaretakari.' 

 Before our departure Albert complained of a very 

 severe headache, and when he arrived with the camels 

 we found him looking more dead than alive, with all 

 the symptoms of sunstroke. Our camp has therefore 

 become a very sick one, but the other invalids are 

 improving ; and though the old soldier required to use 

 his utmost strength to reach here on horseback he is 

 very plucky, and as if he were determined to pull 

 through his attack. The infusion of ipecacuanha-root 

 has had a very beneficial effect upon him. The 

 elephant-hunters who visited us at the Royan when on 

 their way to Abyssinia have had great success, killing 

 so many as forty elephants in this short space of 

 time. Their proper chief is Essafi, and he therefore 

 regrets that he has lost so good a chance of gaining 



